Nursing Foundations · Introduction to Health & Illness

Introduction to Health & Illness

Health (WHO)definition

A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

in simple words: Not just 'no disease' — full well-being in body, mind and society.

e.g. WHO Constitution, 1948.

Three core dimensions – WHO definition

Physical — body's cells, tissues, organs function optimally.
Mental — clear thinking, handling stress, expressing emotions.
Social — meaningful relationships, community contribution.

Models of health

Model	Key idea
Clinical	Absence of disease only
Holistic	Mind, body, spirit interact with environment
High-level wellness	Maximise potential along a continuum
Health belief	Why people do/don't act on health

Holistic care

Holistic health considers dynamic interaction of mind, body and spirit within the environment. It includes emotional, spiritual, social, cultural and physical aspects, and empowers patients to take responsibility for their health.

Introduction to Health & Illness · Nursing Foundations

ICIDH Sequence

ICIDH sequencedefinition

Disease → Impairment → Disability → Handicap.

in simple words: Organ damage → activity limitation → social disadvantage.

WHO ICIDH chain

DiseasePathological condition
ImpairmentLoss/abnormality of structure or function at organ level
DisabilityRestriction in performing an activity in the normal manner
HandicapSocial/environmental disadvantage — cannot fulfil usual roles

Morbidity

Morbidity is the state of being diseased or the incidence of disease within a population. It is a measure of sickness, opposite to complete well-being.

Introduction to Health & Illness · Nursing Foundations

Maslow's Hierarchy

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needsdefinition

Physiological needs at base → safety → love/belonging → esteem → self-actualization at top.

in simple words: Lower needs must be met before higher ones.

e.g. Abraham Maslow, humanistic psychologist.

Maslow's hierarchy

Self-actualization

Fulfil unique potential

Self-esteem

Respect, recognition, self-worth

Love/belonging

Relationships, socialisation

Safety & security

Personal, financial security, health

Physiological

Airway, breathing, circulation, nutrition, thermoregulation

Applying Maslow

Hypothermia – Warmth = physiological need; ranks above psychosocial care.
Long-term care – Socialisation addresses love and belonging (3rd level).

Introduction to Health & Illness · Nursing Foundations

Maslow's Hierarchy (contd.)

Other theorists

Theorist	Theory
Freud	Psychoanalysis — id, ego, superego
Erikson	8 psychosocial stages
Kubler-Ross	5 stages of grief
Peplau	Interpersonal theory — nurse-patient relationship
Orem	Self-Care Deficit Theory

Introduction to Health & Illness · Nursing Foundations

Health-Illness Continuum

Health-illness continuumdefinition

Health is a dynamic state, not a fixed condition — a person's position shifts with physiological changes, lifestyle choices and environmental factors.

in simple words: You move along a spectrum from optimal wellness to illness and death.

Dimensions of health

Physical — biological integrity, assessed by vital signs, exam, labs.
Mental — cognitive and emotional well-being.
Social — form relationships, contribute to community.
Spiritual — values, beliefs, sense of purpose.

High-level wellness

An active process requiring conscious choices, self-awareness and lifestyle changes. Wellness is multidimensional — physical, emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental.

Holistic assessment

Covers physical, mental, social and spiritual health plus environmental risks. Discharge planning must address environmental hazards like mould or poor sanitation to prevent relapse.

Introduction to Health & Illness · Nursing Foundations

Factors & Illness Types

Variables influencing health

Type	Examples
Internal	Developmental stage, intellectual background, emotional state, spiritual beliefs, nature of illness
External	Environment, social context
Extraneous	Confounding variables in research — controlled

Factors — classify correctly

Politico-economic – Finances — access to housing, food, healthcare.
Personal lifestyle – Smoking — not politico-economic.
Psychological – Anxiety — not politico-economic.
Cultural/social – Beliefs — shape risk perception.

Acute vs chronic illness

Feature	Acute	Chronic
Onset	Sudden	Gradual
Duration	Short	> 6 months
Symptoms	Severe	May affect any dimension
Reversibility	Usually reversible	Non-reversible pathological alteration
Examples	Cold, influenza, appendicitis	Diabetes, hypertension, COPD

Illness vs disease

Illness is the subjective feeling of being unwell; disease is the objective pathological condition. The two are not synonymous — fundamental in nursing assessment and documentation.

Introduction to Health & Illness · Nursing Foundations

Illness Behaviour

Illness behaviourdefinition

Activities a person engages in when they believe they are ill — seeking information, self-medicating, deciding to consult a doctor.

in simple words: Initial response to feeling unwell; precedes the formal sick role.

Health behaviour

Prevention by those who believe they are healthy.

Illness behaviour

Response to feeling unwell.

Sick-role behaviour

Already defined as sick by doctor and society.

Wellness behaviour

Aimed at higher well-being.

Behaviour types

Match the behaviour to the belief

Suchman's stages

Experiencing symptomsRecognises symptoms
Assuming sick roleSelf-defines as sick, withdraws temporarily
Becoming a patientSeeks professional advice, becomes dependent
Achieving recoveryResumes normal roles

Infectious disease process

IncubationPathogen multiplies, no symptoms
ProdromalEarly non-specific symptoms — most contagious
IllnessPeak with specific severe symptoms
DeclineSymptoms lessen
ConvalescenceRecovery and strength return

Related terms

Convalescent — recovering health and strength after illness/injury/surgery.
Ambulatory — able to walk, not bedridden.
Valetudinarian — excessively anxious about health.

Introduction to Health & Illness · Nursing Foundations