5 research outputs found
Living with a long-term condition: understanding well-being for individuals with thrombophilia or asthma
range of literature has explored the experience of living with a long-term condition (LTC), and frequently treats such
experiences and conditions as problematic. In contrast, other research has demonstrated that it may be possible to adapt and
achieve well-being, even when living with such a condition. This tends to focus on meaning and the qualitative experience of
living with an LTC, and offers alternative perspectives, often of the same or similar conditions. As a result of these conflicting
views, this study chose to consider two conditions which, though they may lead to life-threatening illness on occasion, do not
appear to impact significantly the lives of all those affected on a daily basis. The aim of this research was to explore and
explain how people make sense of two long-term, potentially life-threatening health conditions, namely, thrombophilia and
asthma. In doing so, it specifically considered the contribution made by information about the condition. A constructivist
grounded theory approach was adopted; this enabled the generation of a theory regarding how people make sense of their
LTC, whilst acknowledging the social circumstances in which this was situated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted
with 16 participants who had given consent to take part in the research. The findings demonstrate that participants undergo a
two-stage process
*
gaining knowledge
and
living with a long-term condition
. The theory based on these findings indicates that
those who are knowledgeable about their condition, making informed decisions in relation to it, and accept their condition
are able to live with it, whilst those who do not accept their condition do not fully adapt to it or integrate it into their live