Health-illness theory

By: Imavike

CONCEPT OF
HEALTH, WELLNESS &
WELL-BEING

HEALTH
Is a complete physical, mental and social
well-being, and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity (WHO, 1947)
Is not a condition; it is an adjustment. It is
not a state but a process. The process
adapts the individual not only to our
physical, but also our social environments
(Presidents Commission, 1953)

Health
Being free of symptoms of disease
and pain as much as possible
Being able to be active and able to
do what they want or must
Being in good spirits most in time

WELLNESS & WELL-BEING

Wellness is a state of well-being
Wellness is the integration of body, mind
and spiritthe appreciation that everything
you do and think, and feel, and believe has
an impact on your state of health
Well-being is a subjective perception of
balance, harmony and vitality

Models of health
and wellness

Smiths models of health

1.
2.
3.
4.

Clinical model
Role performance model
Adaptive model
Eudaemonistic model

Smiths Clinical Model

The narrowest interpretation of health
occurs in the clinical model
The focus of many medical practices is the
relief of signs and symptoms of disease
and the elimination of malfunctioning and
pain. When the signs and symptoms of
disease are no longer present in a person,
the medical practitioner often considers
that the individuals health is restored.

Smiths Role Performance

Model
Health is defined in terms of the
individuals ability to fulfill societal
roles, that is to perform work
According to this model : people
who can fulfill their roles are
healthy even if they appear
clinically ill.

Smiths Adaptive Model

The focus of the adaptive model is
adaptation
Health is a creative process and
disease is a failure in adaptation or
maladaptation.

Smiths Eudaemonistic
This model is incorporates the
most comprehensive view of
health.
Health is seen as a condition of
actualization or realization of a
persons potential.

Leavell and Clarks AgentHost-Environment Model

The model is used primarily in
predicting illness rather than in
promoting wellness, although
identification of risk factors that
result from the interaction of the
agent-host-environment are helpful
in promoting and maintaining
health.

Health-illness Continua
Grids or graduated scales can be
used to measure a persons
perceived level of wellness.

Dunns High-Level
Wellness Grid

Traviss Illness-Wellness
Continuum

Health Belief Model

Differentiating health status,

beliefs & behaviors
Health status
State of health of a person at a given time
Health beliefs
Concept about health that an individual believes true
Some of it are influenced by culture
Health behavior
The actions people take to understand their health
state, maintain an optimal state of health, prevent
illness and injury, and reach their maximum
physical and mental potential.

Factor influencing
health status, beliefs
and behavior

Internal factors
Biologic dimension
Genetic makeup, race, sex, age, and
developmental level
Psychologic dimension
Mind-body interaction, self-concept
Cognitive dimension
Life-style choices and spiritual and
religious beliefs

External factors

Geography
Environment
Standards of living
Family and cultural beliefs
Social support network

Health care compliance

Is the extent to which an individuals

behavior coincides with medical or
health advice

Factors influencing
compliance
Patient motivation to become well
Degree of life-style change
necessary
Perceived severity of the health
care problem
Value placed on reducing the
threat of illness
Difficulty in understanding and
performing specific behaviors

Factors influencing
compliance
Belief that the prescribed therapy or regimen
will or will not help
Complexity, side-effects, and duration of
proposed therapy
Specific cultural heritage that may make
compliance difficult
Degree of satisfaction and quality and type of
relationship with the health care providers
Overall cost of prescribed therapy

How to cope??
Establish why the patient is not following
the regimen
Demonstrate caring
Encourage healthy behaviors through
positive reinforcement
Use aids to reinforce teaching
Establish a therapeutic relationship of
freedom, mutual responsibility with the
patient and support person

ILLNESS AND
DISEASE

Illness is a highly personal state in

which the person feels unhealthy or
ill.
Disease is a term that can be
described as an alteration in body
functions resulting in a reduction of a
capacities or a shortening of the
normal life span.

Effects of illness

Privacy is often affected

Give up much their autonomy
Financial burden
A change in life-style

Illness also affects the family or

significant person

Promoting health and

wellness
Can be achieve through Health
Promotion
Types of health promotion programs:
Information dissemination
Health appraisal/ wellness assessment
programs
Life-style and behavior change programs
Worksite wellness programs
Environmental control programs

The nurses role in health

promotion
Model healthy life-style behaviors and attitudes
Facilitates patient involvement in the assessment,
implementation and evaluation of health goals
Teach patients self-care strategies to enhance
fitness, improve nutrition, manage stress and
enhance relationships
Assist individuals, families and communities to
increase their levels of health
Teach patient to be effective health care
consumers

The nurses role in health

promotion
Assist patients, families and
communities to develop and
choose health-promoting options
Guide the patients development in
effective problem solving and
decision making
Reinforce the patients personal
and family health-promoting
behaviors

Thank
You