Search results for ‘Subject term:"physical illness"’ Sort:
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Disgusting disruptions: capturing the everyday experience and burden of managing gastrointestinal infections in the home
- Authors:
- MCGARROL Sarah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 29(1), 2021, pp.284-293.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Gastrointestinal (GI) infections exert a significant public health burden in the United Kingdom and the numbers of episodes are increasing. Younger children are considered particularly vulnerable to infection, and can experience 2–3 GI infections episodes per year, with consequences being more severe for more disadvantaged children, who are much more likely to be admitted to hospital. Few qualitative studies have explored the lived experience of GI infection in the community in the UK. The aim of the study reported here was to contribute to addressing this evidence gap, by examining the consequences of GI infection for ‘normal’ family life. Eighteen mothers with young children who had recently experienced a gastrointestinal infection were recruited from two socioeconomically contrasting neighbourhoods in North West of England. The findings demonstrated that GI infections were particularly disruptive: experienced as disgusting, laborious and stressful and significantly impacted normal family routines. Women felt burdened by the heavy physical and emotional demands of caring for a GI infection, resulting in feelings of isolation and insufficient support in their caring role from male partners. Tensions also arose from interactions with external community organisations, particularly in complying with their regulations on infection which often undermined caregivers knowledge and expertise of what was best for their children. This study challenges assumptions that managing GI infections in the home is unproblematic and experienced by caregivers as a ‘minor ailment.’ Infection control measures need to incorporate insights gleaned from the day‐to‐day realities of caring for sick children in the community. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental and physical illness in caregivers: results from an English national survey sample
- Authors:
- SMITH Lindsay, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 205(3), 2014, pp.197-203.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Aims: This study investigates the relationship between weekly time spent caregiving and psychiatric and physical morbidity in a representative sample of the population of England. Method: Primary outcome measures were obtained from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007. Self-report measures of mental and physical health were used, along with total symptom scores for common mental disorder derived from the Clinical Interview Schedule - Revised. Results: In total, 25% (n = 1883) of the sample identified themselves as caregivers. They had poorer mental health and higher psychiatric symptom scores than non-caregivers. There was an observable decline in mental health above 10 h per week. A twofold increase in psychiatric symptom scores in the clinical range was recorded in those providing care for more than 20 h per week. In adjusted analyses, there was no excess of physical disorders in caregivers. Conclusions: Strong evidence was found that caregiving affects the mental health of caregivers. Distress frequently reaches clinical thresholds, particularly in those providing most care. Strategies for maintaining the mental health of caregivers are needed, particularly as demographic changes are set to increase involvement in caregiving roles. (Edited publisher abstract)
Therapeutic activities and psychological interventions by cognitive behavioural and psychodynamic therapists working with medically unexplained symptoms: a qualitative study
- Author:
- LUCA Maria
- Journal article citation:
- Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 12(2), 2012, pp.118-127.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), or signs of physical malfunction that cannot be accounted for by a physical disorder, weighs heavily on NHS resources and are difficult for psychological therapists to work with. The belief of some MUS clients that their symptoms are purely physical perpetuates this difficulty. The aim of this paper is to report on therapeutic activities and psychological interventions used to treat MUS clients by experienced cognitive behavioural and psychodynamic therapists. Twelve in-depth, semi-structured, qualitative interviews with psychotherapists, recruited from 2 NHS Departments, were conducted. Interview transcripts were analysed using grounded theory. The findings showed that therapists from 2 modalities share the following activities and interventions: working together with clients; sensitive, empathic responding and building trust; being flexible with techniques; keeping an open mind; and multi-disciplinary cooperation. They also use a number of modality specific interventions which differentiate them from their colleagues. While the therapists spoke of the difficulty that experienced in engaging MUS clients psychologically, they also felt that working together with clients produced more positive outcomes.
An evaluation of the statement of fitness for work: qualitative research with general practitioners: research summary
- Authors:
- FYLAN Beth, CAVENEY Lauren
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 3p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Statement of Fitness for Work (Fit note) replaced the old medical certificates in England, Wales and Scotland on 6 April 2010. It aims to give individuals and employers access to information about when and how someone who is sick might return to work. This report summary explores GPs’ views of the change over to the Fit note system, how they prepared to use the fit note and use it during consultations with patients, and their views on their role in sickness certification. Forty five in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of GPs in England, Scotland and Wales were conducted. Findings suggest that the fit note was a useful consultation tool that GPs can use to keep their patients in work and to return them to work. However, a range of barriers were identified that GPs experienced to returning patients to work using the fit note. These include: low GP self-efficacy to use the fit note; the patient’s age; the local economic and labour market conditions; GPs’ reluctance to damage their relationship with patients; and the patient’s own agenda, for example their motivation to return to work, and their illness perceptions. GPs believed that there was a role for other agencies in helping remove non-medical barriers to their patients working, such as lack of skills or problems with their employers.
An evaluation of the statement of fitness for work: qualitative research with general practitioners
- Authors:
- FYLAN Beth, CAVENEY Lauren
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 66p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Statement of Fitness for Work (Fit note) replaced the old medical certificates in England, Wales and Scotland on 6 April 2010. It aims to give individuals and employers access to information about when and how someone who is sick might return to work. This report explores GPs’ views of the change over to the Fit note system, how they prepared to use the fit note and use it during consultations with patients, and their views on their role in sickness certification. Forty five in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of GPs in England, Scotland and Wales were conducted. Findings suggest that the fit note was a useful consultation tool that GPs can use to keep their patients in work and to return them to work. However, a range of barriers were identified that GPs experienced to returning patients to work using the fit note. These include: low GP self-efficacy to use the fit note; the patient’s age; the local economic and labour market conditions; GPs’ reluctance to damage their relationship with patients; and the patient’s own agenda, for example their motivation to return to work, and their illness perceptions. GPs believed that there was a role for other agencies in helping remove non-medical barriers to their patients working, such as lack of skills or problems with their employers.
Managing influenza-like illness (LIL) in nursing and residential homes during the current influenza pandemic (WHO phase 6)
- Author:
- HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY
- Publisher:
- Health Protection Agency
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 7p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This guidance aims to provide advice on the generic management of cases or outbreaks of flu-like illness in nursing and residential homes and provides specific guidance appropriate to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza..
‘The unwilling and the unwell’? Exploring stakeholders’ perceptions of working with long term sickness benefits recipients
- Authors:
- GARTHWAITE Kayleigh, BAMBRA Clare, WARREN Jon
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 28(8), 2013, pp.1104-1117.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper draws eighteen in-depth interviews with Incapacity Benefit (IB) stakeholders in the North East of England, UK. Stakeholders interviewed included professionals involved with the administration of state benefits and the provision of retraining, rehabilitation and health improvement schemes. Stakeholders’ experiences of working with long-term sickness benefits recipients reveal multiple barriers that both sick and disabled people, and themselves as practitioners, clearly face. Reflections on what ongoing welfare reform could mean for future practice for both stakeholders and recipients are also explored. The findings suggest that whilst stakeholders recognise the complex barriers faced by those receiving sickness benefits, a wider moral dialogue between ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’ is being created and sustained as a result of negative stereotyping of sickness benefits recipients. (Edited publisher abstract)
The role of psychological symptoms and social group memberships in the development of post-traumatic stress after traumatic injury
- Authors:
- JONES Janelle M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Health Psychology, 17(4), November 2012, pp.798-811.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
While the costs associated with traumatic injury are often exacerbated by the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms, it is unclear what decreases the development of post-traumatic symptoms over time. This study investigated the role of psychological symptoms and social group memberships in reducing the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms after orthopaedic injuries (OIs) and acquired brain injuries (ABIs). It assessed self-reported general health symptoms, social group memberships, and post-traumatic stress symptoms among 62 participants with mild or moderate ABI and 31 participants with upper limb OI at 2 weeks (T1) and 3 months (T2) after injury. Analysis revealed that the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms over time was associated with higher levels of general health symptoms among individuals with orthopaedic injuries. They were associated with lower levels of social group memberships among individuals with acquired brain injuries.
Developing an intermediate care unit for older people with mental and physical illness
- Authors:
- MADARAS Andrew, HILTON Claire
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 3.8.10, 2010, pp.18-19.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
A 12-bed intermediate care rehabilitation unit for older people recovering from physical illness who have health problems is described. The Unit is in a 72 bed care home. It is nurse-led and also includes a physiotherapist, occupational therapist and senior mental health nurse in the team. promotes. Its ethos is to encourage independence and allow patients to achieve their objectives.
Unemployment, mortality and the problem of health related selection: evidence from the Scottish and England and Wales (ONS) Longitudinal Studies
- Authors:
- CLEMENS Tom, BOYLE Paul, POPHAM Frank
- Journal article citation:
- Health Statistics Quarterly, 43, Autumn 2009, pp.7-13.
- Publisher:
- Office for National Statistics
Testing whether unemployment causes health deterioration is complicated because failing health may increase the probability of unemployment. In some previous studies of unemployment and mortality a ‘wear-off’ period is used to exclude any deaths occurring in the first few years after employment status was observed. It is assumed that selection effects will wear-off during this period. In this article the effectiveness of using wear-off periods is tested. Using data from the Scottish Longitudinal Study and the England and Wales Longitudinal Study, logistic regression models were used for estimating the odds of death in a given time period after the 1991 Census for those aged 35–64 in 1991. The odds ratios for the different economic positions (in work, unemployed, retired, permanently sick and other inactive) were compared, as well as the changes in risk associated with cumulatively increasing the length of wear-off prior to follow-up. No evidence was found of health related selection for the unemployed in 1991. This observation was consistent across both studies. This suggests that the use of the five year wear-off period in many studies of mortality and unemployment may be an ineffective and unnecessary technique for mitigating the effects of health-related selection.