Young people and chronic illness : a more responsive healthcare world
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2006
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There is extensive literature suggesting that, although most young people cope well and
adjust to life with chronic illness, some young people develop poorer psychosocial health and
functioning, and have an increased risk of psychopathology in adulthood. This area of
concern to nurses working with these young people is poorly addressed in the literature,
specifically, the literature about how young people with chronic illness are cared for from a
psychosocial perspective, in an adult hospital, during the developmental period of
adolescence. What literature does exist, focuses predominantly on the problems of
improving treatment adherence, and provides little in the way of responsive service models
or frameworks for nursing and interdisciplinary practice, to deal with underpinning
psychosocial issues.
The aim of the work within this thesis is to extend knowledge about the psychosocial
development and psychosocial health of young people with chronic illness. In particular, the
focus is on how young people cope and adapt to living with chronic illness, and
recommendations are made for clinical nurses to address the psychosocial needs of this
group. The work of my professional doctorate emerged out of, is grounded within, clinical
practice, and operates from the scope of experience of myself as a Registered Nurse, a
Clinical Nurse Specialist, and as a Clinical Nurse Consultant.
The thesis has three components: first, a comprehensive analysis of the clinical situation that
is at the centre of this thesis, and an associated literature review; second, an empirical
research study focusing on one aspect of this complex situation; and a final, theoretical
analysis of the healthcare world that young people with chronic illness experience, and of the
professional lives of nurses. The clinical situation is presented as a reflective analysis of a
clinical problem from multiple perspectives, and is followed by a review of relevant literature.
The empirical study investigates the psychosocial functioning and treatment adherence of 85
young people aged 12-24 years in an adult hospital. The findings identify potential areas of
difficulty in psychosocial functioning for some young people with chronic illness, suggesting
that there is a subgroup facing significant challenges in coping with the effects of illness in
their day-to-day lives. The third aspect, the theoretical component, builds upon the findings
of the empirical study and examines the responsiveness of the healthcare world in relation to
the needs of young people with chronic illness, and the place of nursing practice and clinical
leadership in addressing these needs. Clinical nursing leadership and clinical leadership
activities are identified as being necessary at each level of this healthcare world. 1bis
leadership will ensure responsive nursing practice, the effective contribution of nursing
skills within interdisciplinary teams and responsive policy reform, in order to optimise
psychosocial outcomes for young people with chronic illness in an adult hospital.
Ecological Systems Theory (EST) provides the framework for the analysis of the healthcare
world. The analysis revealed global dilemmas in how to sustain the provision of ethical,
fiscally responsible, and clinically effective care to increasing numbers of chronically ill young
people. The theoretical analysis facilitates the identification of potential ways that nursing
can use a global perspective to plan services and to investigate the development of a coping
framework for nursing interventions; and it highlights the crucial role of psychosocial
developmental mastery in the formation of coping skills. The addition of Erikson's theory of
psychosocial development complements EST by deepening the analysis of the internal world
of the young people. The analysis draws on case studies to identify psychosocial risks, and
points to several ways in which the clinical care of young people may facilitate developmental
mastery; which I argue sits at the heart of coping and adaptation to illness.
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