Page 86 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

CHRonIC ILLnESS n 53

of research studies are being generated at least one chronic illness (ogden, Carroll,
related to the postpartum hospitalization McDowell, & Flegal, 2007).
experience. However, there seems to be a Chronic illness includes a broad spec- C
disconnect between studies focusing on the trum of diseases that differ significantly
antenatal childbirth education experience from one another in their underlying causes,
and those focusing on the in-patient hospital- modes of treatment, symptoms, and effects
ization experience. nursing is in an optimal on a person’s life and activity. Chronic ill-
position to make this logical and vital con- ness is usually an unexpected and long-
nection. Also, examination of the impact of lasting condition of health that often cannot
childbirth education on vulnerable popula- be cured: It affects all, regardless of gender,
tions has declined in recent years despite the age, and economic interest. It usually persists
continued discrepancies noted in pregnancy for an indefinite period of time, making it
outcomes for minority groups. If these poor impossible to predict its course and outcome.
outcomes are to be effectively addressed, Chronic illness usually requires long-term
the childbirth education needs of vulnerable surveillance and sometimes leaves residual
populations require the continued attention disability (Lubkin & Larsen, 2009). Families
of nurse researchers. are drained physically, emotionally, and
financially. There is often upheaval of rela-
Bobbe Ann Gray tions among the patient, family, and other
members of society. overall, chronic ill-
nesses vary greatly in their developmental
course. Some conditions improve over time,
ChroniC illness some stabilize, and others are progressively
degenerating and debilitating.
Chronic illness has a huge negative eco-
The practice of nursing has long been identi- nomic impact (Suhrcke, nugent, Stuckler, &
fied with the care and comfort of the chron- Rocco, 2006). noncommunicable chronic dis-
ically ill. However, the health care delivery eases—including cardiovascular diseases,
system has not adequately responded to the some cancers, chronic respiratory diseases,
needs of the increasing numbers of chroni- and type 2 diabetes—are the major health
cally ill adults (Frieden & Henning, 2009; problems facing the world, and they are a
Yach et al., 2010). Until recently, communica- barrier to development and alleviating pov-
ble diseases were the leading cause of death erty in countries of the global south (Daar
worldwide. new medical discoveries and et al., 2007). In a 2007 study, it was estimated
the evolution of public health have improved that over the next decade, China, India, and
the ability to survive acute threats, and thus the United Kingdom were projected to lose
life expectancy has lengthened, changing $558 billion, $237 billion, and $33 billion,
the course of diseases from acute to chronic respectively, in national income as a result
(World Health organization, 2005). Chronic of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, partly
illnesses cause the greatest share of death as a result of reduced economic productivity
and disability. of 58 million deaths world- (Lopez, Mathers, Ezzati, Jamison, & Murray,
wide in 2005, 35 million were due to chronic 2006). In the United States, expenditures
illness, with 80% of those deaths occurring in for health care for people with chronic ill-
countries of the global south in equal propor- nesses exceed billions of dollars every year
tions among men and women (World Health and are associated with 75% of the nation’s
organization, 2005). In the United States in $2 trillion health care costs each year (Centers
2005, an estimated 133 million people, that is, for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009).
one out of every two adults, are living with Health care utilization seems to be associated