Factors influencing one's ability to adapt to chronic illness.

Abstract

The disease course in chronic illness may be subtle and accompanied by irreversible changes that have to be managed. Once the immediacy of the illness has been dealt with, the patient may face a future full of uncertainties related to illness recurrence, further disease progression, and perhaps even death. Thus the long-term implications of chronic illness necessitate multiple accommodations on the part of the patient, the family, and society. To aid in one's ability to deal with a chronic illness such factors as care, technology, family relationships, developmental level, cultural values and beliefs, communication, and economics need to be considered. An understanding of how each of these factors affects chronic illness can facilitate the appropriate development and initiation of options for adaptation to the illness.