Individual Perceptions of Health, Illness, and Chronic Diseases

Discuss perceptions of concepts of health, illness, and chronic diseases from a cultural heritage point of view.

Most knowledge gained by nurses about concepts such as chronic disease, health, and illness is usually explored only through class discussions and reading assignments. Within the discussions, the patient’s thoughts, ideas, and feelings are inferred by the student, who often does not possess firsthand knowledge or experience. Select a person with whom you can discuss issues, such as the meanings of health and illness, based on their cultural heritage. If the person is healthy, how does the person explain health, and what does “being healthy” mean to them?