Health and Illness: A Socio-Cultural Perspective on Client Care

Abstract

This was a descriptive, grounded theory study designed to explore relationships between social and cultural phenomena in an individuals life and the resulting impact on health and healing. Ten subjects were involved in an audio-taped interview style forum. The methodology utilised to form an underlying conceptual model was the cross comparative technique, where data was continually analysed and compared for reoccurring themes and variables. Themes were then clustered, and delimited, leaving the conceptual model exposed. Illness was seen as a time of challenge, where the individual's self-image was threatened. Healing could then be seen as an adaptive process that allowed homeostasis to re-occur. There were several key social factors that allowed successful adaptation to occur; most noticeably, social support to re-affirm changes in self-image, and a trusting and empowering carer-client relationship that allowed for confidence in recovery. The study discerned some implications to the practice of nursing care, where an holistic, open-minded, informative and communicative relationship with the client was found to be one that most benefited or promoted overall health achievement. In the study the complex and interactive nature of the individual and the forces acting upon him or her in illness was also illustrated.