Contents:
The teen years are some of the most demanding. Even the most well-adjusted youth struggles with the intense daily challenges of friends, family, school and wider society. But these problems pale in comparison to those faced by teenagers with a handicap or chronic illness such as spina bifida or cystic fibrosis. Easy for You to Say profiles the lives of uniquely challenged teens as they work hard to make sense of the world and their places in it. The questions they pose are frank and courageous, many include street language that teens can identify with and readily understand.
The issues front and center in their lives are addressed, such as family, doctors and medical issues, friends and dating, school and work, alcohol and street drugs, medications and sexuality.
Useful charts give reliable information on medication interactions and side effects. The challenge for doctors is to maintain awareness of adolescent development in our interactions with young people with chronic illness and their parents so that, in time, these young people become their own best advocates. So how have you found the new asthma preventer, Michelle?
I still have to remind her to take it all the time. She nags me all the time! I can help myself along the way. Not the best it could be, but not the lowest either. I get sick of doing all the things that I have to do — it also gets boring. I really hate it when people do that. It is really annoying. If I have an asthma attack I know what to do. I am not as anxious as I was.
That causes other feelings like relationships. I can create a purpose.
Mark is a year-old boy who was recently diagnosed with epilepsy. His mother is concerned that he is increasingly moody, as well as physically aggressive with his younger sister. Previous medical visits were with Mark and his mother together, with the primary focus being fine-tuning his medication dose in response to seizure control and side effects. He has recently started a new anti-convulsive.
The doctor suggests it would be useful to see Mark alone to hear his view of how things are going, and describes the confidential nature of medical consultations to Mark and his mother. He has not told his parents about this, but is happy for the doctor to share this with his mother. He agrees he is feeling sad, and also reports he is angry about having epilepsy. The doctor suggests that Mark try to identify some daily routines that would make it easier for him to remember to take his medication.
The doctor then sees Mark and his mother together and describes the plan to keep a medication diary. Mark agrees to more frequent medical review in the lead up to the camp to help decide whether he feels safe enough to attend. At each visit, he is seen by himself and then with his mother, who confirms that his adherence is much better since establishing regular medication routines linked to cleaning his teeth.
Despite continued good seizure control, both Mark and his mother remain ambivalent about the camp. His mother gradually becomes more confident as his seizures remain well controlled, and finally discusses her support for Mark to attend the camp with his school. With some encouragement, Mark agrees to attend the camp, which turns out to be medically uneventful and socially enjoyable.
Over the next few months, his social confidence gradually improves and, by the following year, he has returned to his usual sporting activities. Publication of your online response is subject to the Medical Journal of Australia 's editorial discretion. You will be notified by email within five working days should your response be accepted. Basic Search Advanced search search. Use the Advanced search for more specific terms.
Volume Issue 8. Self-management in adolescents with chronic illness.
What does it mean and how can it be achieved? Med J Aust ; 8: Abstract The concept of self-management is based on the notion that it will improve wellbeing and strengthen self-determination and participation in health care, while reducing health care utilisation and health costs.
Adolescent development and self-management Adolescent development is commonly conceptualised in terms of physical, cognitive and psychosocial maturation. What we know about young people and chronic illness Medical perspectives Three concepts have surfaced within the medical literature in relation to chronic illness and adolescence.
Parent perspectives When patients are younger children, the dominant interaction in the clinical setting is between the doctor and the parents. Towards self-care The development of self-management practices for adolescents with chronic illness requires active engagement of both young people and their parents, with attention to the psychosocial world of the young person. Conclusion Although there has been little research on self-management practices in young people with chronic illness and disability, we believe the concept is salient for this group and builds on existing frameworks of adherence, transition to adult health care and developmentally appropriate health care.
How often are you reminding her?
The global burden of disease. Harvard School of Public Health, Lorig K, Visser A. Arthritis patient education standards: Patient Educ Couns ; Collaborative management of chronic illness. Ann Intern Med ; Patient self-management of chronic disease in primary care. The burden of disease and injury in Australia.
Easy for You to Say: Q and As For Teens Living With Chronic Illness or Disabilities I did not want this book to be for people who share one illness or disability. Easy for You to Say: Q and As for Teens Living With Chronic Illness or She has been working with teens with chronic illness or disability for more than 20 years.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Aroni R, Swerrissen H. Implications for estimates of disability in children: An epidemiologic profile of children with special health care needs. Yeo M, Sawyer S. The easy-to-implement strategies in this book provides parents with practical instructions for pain management that will enable children to return to school, participate in sports and other activities, and pursue healthy and active social lives.
Mon enfant a une maladie chronique: Pegasus Healthcare International, Parenting children with health issues: Les points forts du film: Relieve your child's chronic pain: This book will help the parent recognize, measure, and evaluate their child's pain properly; learn about the many alternative pain-management approaches that can be used at home and more.
Sick all the time: Mason Crest Publishers, Kids just want to be kids. They want to spend time with their friends and enjoy life. When a kid has a chronic illness, though, it can be a lot more difficult to do those things. Soothing your child's pain: This book contains practical information about coping with the everyday experience of pain in children. When your child hurts: Yale University Press, Parents of a child in pain want nothing more than to offer immediate comfort.
But a child with chronic or recurring pain requires much more. His or her parents need skills and strategies not only for increasing comfort but also for helping their child deal with an array of pain-related challenges, such as school disruption, sleep disturbance, and difficulties with peers.
Written by an expert in pediatric pain management, this book is offers in-the-moment strategies for managing a child's pain along with expert advice for fostering long-term comfort. When your child is technology assisted: New England Medical Center, This guide is for parents of children with disabilities who require the help of a machine or device for some life-sustaining activity such as breathing or eating.
It includes chapters on preparing for the child's return home including parent training, setting up the child's room, safety precautions, changing the physical structure of the home, marital adjustment to home care and helping siblings, respectively.
Young people and chronic illness: This book is a source of strength, inspiration, and sound advice for young people diagnosed with chronic illnesses.