There are many models concerning health and illness. This is because health and illness are two concepts that are constantly changing and require continuous evaluation. Examining the health-illness continuum and how it relates to human experience assists us in recognizing the significance of adaptation for the maintenance of health and well-being. Health is a human experience and not several technical diagnoses. Today's healthcare has a greater focus on disease and illness as opposed to wellness and illness. Moreover, every individual makes a definition of their health based on their feelings and their daily functions regarding the level of their health. This makes the health-illness continuum essential for a comprehensive perspective on the health and wellness of individuals.
The health-illness continuum was developed by Dr. John Travis in the 1970s to assess the perception of an individual's level of wellness (Travis & Ryan, 2004). High-level wellness exists on the right side of the continuum, while illness and death exist on the left side. A neutral point exists in the middle of the continuum with no identification of wellness or illness. This theory states that individuals move back and forth on the continuum each day. Along the continuum, the treatment paradigm exists on the left side of the neutral point. This is the point at which traditional healthcare exists, in the treatment and interventions of illness and disease states. The more an individual moves to the left of the continuum, the more healthcare as control, and the patient has to do very little to get well (Travis et al., 2004). Traditional medicine can only be utilized to return the individual to the neutral point within the wellness continuum. Once the middle is achieved, the individual becomes responsible for their health and takes an active role in achieving a higher level of wellness.
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Application for a Health Care Provider
The state of well-being or wellness is a dynamic goal and an improving process. Decision making is needed every day in areas linked to health and involves the entire individual. Wellness is a subjective perception of an individual's vitality but is also defined objectively, and measured to exist on the continuum. As a healthcare provider, the continuum assists me in promoting the value of individuals by assessing individuals based on the seven dimensions. In the physical dimension, I evaluate the capability of an individual to carry out activities, their fitness levels, and the maintenance of nutrition. On the other hand, based on the social dimension, their wellness can be established based on the relationships they have and the methods they have in place to handle stress (Penwell-Waines, Greenawald, & Musick, 2018). According to the spiritual dimensions, having an understanding of the belief system is crucial for understanding the treatments or interventions that are appropriate for each patient.
The continuum has been considered significant in increasing my understanding of the patient. Through the evaluation of internal and external factors that impact the health status and belief of the patient, an appropriate environment for treatment can be established (Salmond & Echevarria, 2017). The creation of an atmosphere for caring in patient care enables the integration of the experiences of individuals with the continuum. Nurses are educated and trained to provide patient care while also genuinely caring for the patients. The assessment of the different dimensions of healthcare, makes it easy for healthcare providers to take part in visualizing the best form of care for patients. This indicates the significance of the health-illness continuum to the formation of relationships between patients and healthcare teams. While assisting patients in the discussion of their views of wellness, nurses gain the ability to develop relationships with the patients that they care for.
Reflection on State of Health
Several habits have an impact on my overall state of health and wellness. While assessing my own beliefs and ideas in regards to my health, I identified that I have extensive awareness and education of the proper habits required to establish an optimum level of health. However, despite this knowledge, I still engage in several habits which at times affect my state of health. An example of these habits is my tendency to consume unhealthy foods. Every once in a while, despite being aware of an existing family history of diabetes and obesity, I engage in excessive consumption of junk food, which severely affects my cholesterol level.
However, several factors positively contribute to my wellness. These factors include having a positive attitude and focusing on a low carbohydrate diet. I also engage in taking part in moderate exercise for about an hour each day. This has been considerable in enabling me to maintain a peak state of health. On the health-illness continuum, I currently fall within the left side of the continuum at the education stage.
Options and Resources
Options and resources that are currently available to me to assist with my continued wellness journey mainly involve my intrinsic capability to engage in personal growth along with access to experienced nutritional employees. My capability to grow has provided me with the resilience to establish a high level of wellness over the years. Hence, by focusing on this capability to establish healthy eating habits, I believe I can improve my overall wellness. Moreover, coordinating with experienced nutrition will enable me to access a comprehensive healthy eating plan, which considers my family history.
References
Penwell-Waines, L., Greenawald, M., & Musick, D. (2018). A Professional Well-Being Continuum: Broadening the Burnout Conversation. Southern medical journal , 111 (10), 634-635.
Salmond, S. W., & Echevarria, M. (2017). Healthcare transformation and changing roles for nursing. Orthopedic nursing , 36 (1), 12.
Travis, J. W., & Ryan, R. S. (2004). Wellness workbook: How to achieve enduring health and vitality . Random House Digital, Inc.
