Making sense of chronic illness – a therapeutic approach

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A diagnosis of any chronic progressive illness can be a traumatic experience. People wonder how they will be able to cope and health care professionals wonder how they can help those so affected. The aim of the study was to discover how people find meaning when they are diagnosed with chronic illness. The research question asked is: How do people make sense of living with chronic progressive illness? METHOD: This is a qualitative study using a phenomenological approach to apply what is learned to developing therapeutic strategies in order to help those so diagnosed to find the meaning they need in order to live with resilience. Semi-structured interviews with seven people were held in order to determine how they cope with living with chronic progressive illness. The results were then used to develop some suggestions for health professionals as they seek to assist people with chronic progressive illness. FINDINGS: All participants displayed much resilience and determination which was found to emerge from three main themes: memory, hope and meaning. Memory was seen to be the link between all the themes. These are described and, arising out of the results of this study, some suggestions are made in order to assist in management. CONCLUSION: It is possible for health care professionals to assist patients to make sense of chronic illness by helping them to view their illness as part of life, and therefore a challenge to be faced rather than seeing life as dominated by illness. KEYWORDS: Chronic disease; resilience, psychological; narration; psychology, existential