Power point presentation Slides Presented in Lectures at Services institute of Medical Sciences Lahore

1. Psychosocial aspects of health
Psychosocial parameters
maintaining health and normalcy

2. DEFINITION OF HEALTH
World Health Organization defines health “as
a state of complete physical, mental and social
well being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity”.

3. Psychosocial parameters maintaining
health and normalcy
1. Dynamism: it refers to different roles and
functions of a person and their changing nature.
The more roles he performs the more dynamic
he is.
2. Optimization: it refers to performing most of his
roles at an optimum state i.e. at best possible
level.
3. Personal contentment: it refers to attaining a
sustained state of satisfaction and ease despite
of repeated failures.

4. 4. Socially responsible: it refers to taking responsibility
of the roles and duties assigned by the society - family
members, neighborhood, city, country, world.
5. Occupationally effective: it refers to competency in
his occupation – skills, knowledge and wisdom.
6. Economically emancipated: it refers to a sense of
being free from financial pressures.
7. Relieve from pain and distress: it refers to be free
from any painful condition and on psychological front free
from mistrust, deceit, prejudice, intolerance, aggression.
8. Homeostasis: it refers to giving respect to rights of
others and giving importance to the laws of nature.

5. Defence Mechanisms
• In order to acquire and maintain this state of
health and normalcy, a person uses different
psychological mechanisms which help him
endure his course of life. These are called
Defence Mechanisms.
• Sigmund Freud have described a number of
these defence mechanisms.

8. Psychosocial Aspects of Disease
Disease and hospitalization are a source of
major stress to the patient.
CONCERNS ABOUT THE ILLNESS :-
• The infectious nature ?
• The possibility of passing it to the next
generation through inheritance ?
• How long will the treatment last ?
• Are there any consequent residual disabilities ?

9. STRESS DUE TO ILLNESS
• Change of role: The ill is assigned a passive
role.
• Financial loss: The disease and the consequent
disability may result in a temporary or
permanent loss of job; consultation,
investigations, treatment and hospitalization
• Stigmatization: psychiatric illnesses,
tuberculosis, venereal diseases, sex linked
disorders, AIDS, epilepsy and skin diseases,
carry myths and stigma.

10. • Loss of self esteem: The passive role, the
stigma, financial stress and the distress of the
disease lead to a poor view of the self:
• Fear of being handicapped or disfigurement.
• Uncertain prognosis.
INTERVENTION:
• Explanation and reassurance based on facts
and scientific data be furnished in the
language best understood by the patient.

11. STRESS OF HOSPITALIZATION
• Word hospital is synonymous with ‘bad news’.
• Hospital is a place associated with disease,
disability and death that we learn to dread.
• Layout of public hospitals is unaesthetic: trauma
centre, the emergency, and the intensive care
units are set at the very front and thus become
the ”face of the hospital” making it dreadful.
• The functioning of public sector hospitals is
mostly bureaucratic, with series of long cues or
chaotic masses manned by rude attendants.

12. • Loss of privacy: among the stranger patients
and hospital staff and expected to eat, sleep,
wash and ease out in common.
• Loss of autonomy: Once admitted, his diet,
dress, bedding, lodging, sleep, and all other
routines will now be decided by the health
personnel. Some subjects might enjoy this
arrangement. Others may dislike it and pose a
sudden disappearance of all the symptoms,
ready for early discharge taking a “flight to
health” and pose ”fit for discharge”.

13. • Separation from the dear ones
• Need of seeking approval of the doctors: In
traditional model, pt. tends to please and seek
approval of doctor by being a model pt. i.e.
asking no question, no arguments and always
nodding in affirmation.
• The issue of handing over his health matters to
a group of total strangers.
• Threat of the social dysfunction of the family.
• Unsatisfactory information.