Despite being ubiquitous, the notion of health is not straightforward to describe. Healthcare providers view health as an absence of any illnesses and unfavorable conditions. However, this approach omits the dynamic nature of human well-being and the fact that feeling healthy is subjective. Different people may have diverse thoughts on when they consider themselves healthy. To address the changing nature of well-being, today, healthcare providers can leverage the concepts and tools of the health-illness continuum. This graphical representation of human health can serve as the basis for change in how the healthcare system interprets the meaning of well-being and how it tackles public health issues. Notably, health-illness continuum may encourage proactive strategies for keeping the nation healthy. This paper will explore what this continuum is and how it relates to patient care.
Health-Illness Continuum and Its Importance
Traditionally, it was considered that if a person does not emit any symptoms of illnesses, he or she is healthy. This perspective was challenged by John Travis, who, in 1972, developed the notion of the health-illness continuum (Greenberg, 2015). According to this conceptualization of health, human well-being is associated not only with the absence of illnesses but also with emotional and mental health (Greenberg, 2015). The continuum represents human health as a line with premature death to the left and high-level wellness to the right (Greenberg, 2015). The center is called the neutral point, where a person does not show any symptoms of health condition but also does not feature any signs of tremendous wellness.
A person moves along the continuum in both directions, depending on his or her well-being. This perspective on human health is crucial because it indicates the issues within the current healthcare system. Hospitals and other health institutions only provide episodic care when the patient is on the left side of the continuum. Incidental treatment is not sufficient because it does not take sociodemographic and economic factors into consideration. Such an approach results in the absence of holistic care. The health-illness continuum, on the other hand, encourages perpetual primary care that is aimed at improving wellness rather than treating illnesses (Greenberg, 2015). This approach is set to lower the number of emergency interventions by providing proactive strategies for patient care.
Health-Illness Continuum and Healthcare Providers
Incorporating the ideas of the health-illness continuum into patient care will result in the development of a program that will span across a patient’s lifetime. It means that healthcare providers are no longer passive professionals who deal with illnesses when they start showing their symptoms. Instead, healthcare professionals should regularly monitor patients’ health and recommend activities to move in the right direction of the continuum. This improvement in well-being is achieved in three steps – awareness, education, growth (Wickramarathne et al., 2020). Healthcare providers are responsible for the first two items – they have to inform patients about the continuum and factors contributing to wellness. Also, healthcare professionals must educate patients to strive for a higher level of wellness continuously. A positive outlook is the most significant element, and health professionals should ensure that patients stay positive despite their health condition (Payton, 2017). Conversely, a negative outlook may lead to unfavorable health outcomes or even premature death. Understanding this knowledge provided by the continuum enables health providers always to encourage patients, motivate them, and show them that they are valued.
Reflection on the Personal State of Health
My health condition fluctuates between the neutral point and the left side of the continuum. I often do not have any illnesses, but instead of trying to improve my wellness, I unintentionally deteriorate my well-being. For instance, my diet is not as healthy as it should be and consists of fast-food and soda drinks. I do not exercise regularly and only check my health when I have symptoms of an illness. However, after learning more about the health-illness continuum, I am motivated to take more care of my emotional and physical health.
Helpful Resources
Wellness is comprised of eight dimensions, and each of them can be considered when moving toward the right end of the continuum. To improve in the physical dimension, one may explore resources on a healthy diet and nourishing physical activities (Stoewen, 2017). The social dimension is related to interpersonal relationships with family members, friends, and other individuals (Stoewen, 2017). Resources that may be helpful include group discussions, books on effective communication, friends, and family. When recovering from an illness, it may be significant to concentrate on the physical and emotional dimensions. By providing the body with adequate nutrition and taking control of one’s emotions, an individual may make significant steps toward the right end of the continuum.
Conclusion
The health-illness continuum challenges our traditional view of health. It also demonstrates that the healthcare system concentrates too much on the disease rather than human flourishing. By incorporating the concepts of the continuum, healthcare providers can improve public health. Giving ongoing support is much more effective than providing episodic care. Focusing on wellness can also prevent many illnesses that result from poor diet and lack of physical activities.
References
Greenberg, J. S. (2015). Health and wellness: A conceptual differentiation. Journal of School Health, 55(10), 403-406.
Payton, A. R. (2017). Mental health, mental illness, and psychological distress: the same continuum or distinct phenomena? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 50(2), 213-227.
Stoewen, D. L. (2017). Dimensions of wellness: Change your habits, change your life. The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 58(8), 861-862.
Wickramarathne, P. C., Phuoc, J. C., & Albattat, A. R. S. (2020). A review of wellness dimension models: For the advancement of the society. European Journal of Social Sciences Studies, 5(1), 185-198.