Question

3) Define both morbidity and chronic disease. Research, locate, and discuss a specific support group that had a positive impact on the chronic disease outcome of the participants or modification of participant behavior. Include relative statistical data to support. 4) Research, locate, and discuss a support group specific to gender, socioeconomic status or ethnicity. How did attending the support group affect participant behavior?

Answer 1

3)Morbidity is a term used for illness in the clinical discourse.A person can have several co-morbidities simultaneously and morbidities can range from Alzheimer's disease to cancer to hypertension. Prevalence is a measure often used to determine the level of morbidity in a population.

Chronic diseases are defined as diseases that have a prolonged course, do not resolve spontaneously, and for which a complete cure is rarely possible even with the available treatment. Chronic diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, malignant neoplasms, and diabetes.

The treatment costs and the amount of emotional investment involved in the physician-administered treatment of chronic illnesses can take a toll on the coping ability of the patient, the resilience of the family and the infrastructure available to the health professionals. It is in this regard that the importance of social support at the community level for effective disease self-management has been recognized in mental health and physical health. Joining a support group is a great way to meet and talk to others who have the same chronic condition as oneself. They focus on providing support for people with specific conditions by inculcating a sense of belonging to a group of newly found peers and mentors.

Peer support is a social support provided by those who share characteristics with the person being supported and is intentionally fostered within formal interventions. For instance, Hyde et al( 2005) carried a study on the effectiveness of HIV support group in the members’s coping with their chronic illness. The study used the AIDS project Los Angeles (that offers educational forums and multi-session small-group workshops) and tarzana treatment center (offers forums and multisession small-group workshops to both newly diagnosed and HIV-positive individuals who were diagnosed for more than 2 years), Los Angeles Shanti (offers LOVE positive seminars, multisession small- group workshops conducted across one weekend with a series of nine weekly follow-up support groups). The study showed that Knowledge of a shared disease fostered a bond of emotional closeness and connection between the patients-members. Facing similar challenges and disease, lifestyles and life experiences, cultural values, their shared commitment to the program, and extending mutual support, all were found to be helpful to forge a sense of connection. As a result, the supportive environment reduced feelings of isolation due to HIV/ AIDS.

Moreover, Their behaviour and lifestyle was transformed, towards healthier eating and exercise habits, healthy friendships, interpersonal communication, and securing employment.

References:

J. Hyde, P. Appleby, G. Weiss, J. Bailey, X. Morgan (2005) Group level interventions for persons living with HIV: a catalyst for individual change. AIDS Educ Prev, 17. pp. 53-65