Healthcare Administration Leadership & Management Journal
What Challenges Anybody With Illness or Injury?
The article examines the interplay between emotional and physiological responses to illness, detailing seven basic developmental fears outlined by Dr. James Strain. It emphasizes understanding these emotional responses to improve patient care and describes characteristics of "good" patients who manage illness through emotional balance and adaptability.
March/April 2025 Vol. 3, No. 2 pp. 111–113 DOI: 10.55834/halmj.6637350977
Abstract
This article explores the complex interplay between emotional and physiological responses to illness and injury, highlighting the variability in patient reactions to medical procedures. It discusses the seven basic developmental fears associated with illness, as outlined by Dr. James Strain, including fears related to loss of control, separation from loved ones, and existential threats. The article underscores the importance of understanding these emotional responses to provide better patient care. It also delineates the characteristics of “good” patients who effectively manage the challenges of illness and injury through emotional balance, maintaining relationships, coping with disabilities and pain, and adapting to various healthcare providers. The insights aim to enhance healthcare providers’ ability to support patients’ psychological well-being during medical treatment.
