PSYC 2301 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Factors that Influence symptoms - Answers - - Individual differences/personality
- Cultural differences
- Situational factors
- Stress
- Mood
Schema (illness representation) - Answers - A patients own beliefs about their illnesses;
what they know about their disease/symptoms - helps them to explain.
Five components of illness schemas - Answers - - Identity (label)
- Consequences
- Causes
- Duration
- Cure
Models of illness - Answers - Most individuals have 3 models of illness:
- Acute illness
- Chronic illness
- Cyclic illness
Acute illness - Answers - Bacterial or viral, short duration.
E.g. standard cold or flu; lasts a couple of weeks and then it is gone.
Chronic illness - Answers - Multi-factorial, long duration. Usually have for life; no clear
cure.
E.g. Diabetes
Cyclic illness - Answers - Alternating period of activity - being sick, and then being well,
etc.
Interpretation of symptoms - additional influencers - Answers - - Lay referral network -
input from friends, family, peers
- Internet - background info, lifestyle modification
Predictors of Health Service Users - Answers - - Age
- Gender
- Socio-economic status (SES)
- Culture
- Social psychological
Age - Answers - - Newborns use the system during birth
- Children/teens use it less (generally healthy)
- Late adulthood - health complications start; access of system increases
,- Elderly - use the system the most
Gender - Answers - - Women use the system more than men
- Women give birth, are more prone to seeking help, more proactive, etc.
Socio-economic status (SES) - Answers - - High SES = less use of system, more use of
specialists
- Low SeS = high use of system, less use of specialists
Culture - Answers - - Visible minorities use the system more; less use of specialists
- Ethnics made 4 + visits
- Linguistic barriers - seen a lot in Canada
- Perceived quality of care
Social Psychological - Answers - - Individual attitude/beliefs about symptoms and health
care (if you think negatively about the system, you are most likely going to have a
negative experience; negative thinking)
- Health belief model predictors:
1. Perceived threat to health - perception of severity influences help seeking
2. Belief of efficacy of intervention - knowing that there is a clear treatment will increase
likeliness to seek help. Not knowing decreases likeliness.
Misuse of Health Services - Answers - Instances where the system is used incorrectly:
- Physical symptoms associated with emotional disturbances
- Symptoms triggered by psychological drivers
- Worried well individuals
- Somatacizers
- Secondary gains
Symptoms triggered by psychological drivers - Answers - o University students' disease
o Inappropriate assessment by patient (physician vs. specialist)
o Limited access - quicker/easier to see a doctor for physical health than a
psychologist/psychotherapist for mental health
Worried well individuals - Answers - Individuals who place over emphasis on symptoms
due to heightened self-care; use system a lot for small things.
Somatacizers - Answers - People who express symptoms after personal or emotional
insult; expressing physical symptoms from overwhelming change in your life.
E.g. getting dumped and feeling like crap
Secondary gains - Answers - Downstream benefits arising form the illness, such as:
- Time off/rest
- Removal from responsibilities
- Medical (physical ability limited) vs. psychological symptoms (PTSD, resulting in
reassignment for work)
, Delay Behaviour - Answers - Patients live with one or more potentially serious
symptoms without proper care.
- Delay = time between recognition and treatment.
Types of Delay Behaviour - Answers - Composed of several time periods:
- Appraisal delay
- Illness delay
- Behavioural delay
- Medical delay
- Treatment delay
- Provider delay
Appraisal delay - Answers - Symptom is serious.
- The time from noticing the symptom and believed it is serious.
Illness delay - Answers - Symptom implies an illness.
How long it takes you to believe that it is an actual illness.
Behavioural delay - Answers - Time between recognition and treatment.
How long it takes you to modify your behaviour and go to the doctor.
Medical delay - Answers - Time between appointment and treatment.
How long it takes you to see a professional.
- Out of your control, and is a problem with our system
Treatment delay - Answers - Occurs after primary visit due to:
- Curiosity being satisfied by the first visit
- Fear/alarm of symptoms/diagnosis
Provider delay - Answers - Occurs due to physician or treatment algorithm.
- If you need to do a bunch of things before you can start the treatment
- If the doctor needs to figure something out before providing treatment
Predictors of Delay Behaviour - Answers - - Elderly delay less
- Lack of regular physician
- Personal views/fears
- Frequency of symptom occurrence
- Personal safety assessment of symptom: highly visible, degree of pain, degree of
change, incapacitating
Health Care Providers - Answers - - Phsyician
- Physician assistant
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurses
- Health educators/nutritionists
Factors that Influence symptoms - Answers - - Individual differences/personality
- Cultural differences
- Situational factors
- Stress
- Mood
Schema (illness representation) - Answers - A patients own beliefs about their illnesses;
what they know about their disease/symptoms - helps them to explain.
Five components of illness schemas - Answers - - Identity (label)
- Consequences
- Causes
- Duration
- Cure
Models of illness - Answers - Most individuals have 3 models of illness:
- Acute illness
- Chronic illness
- Cyclic illness
Acute illness - Answers - Bacterial or viral, short duration.
E.g. standard cold or flu; lasts a couple of weeks and then it is gone.
Chronic illness - Answers - Multi-factorial, long duration. Usually have for life; no clear
cure.
E.g. Diabetes
Cyclic illness - Answers - Alternating period of activity - being sick, and then being well,
etc.
Interpretation of symptoms - additional influencers - Answers - - Lay referral network -
input from friends, family, peers
- Internet - background info, lifestyle modification
Predictors of Health Service Users - Answers - - Age
- Gender
- Socio-economic status (SES)
- Culture
- Social psychological
Age - Answers - - Newborns use the system during birth
- Children/teens use it less (generally healthy)
- Late adulthood - health complications start; access of system increases
,- Elderly - use the system the most
Gender - Answers - - Women use the system more than men
- Women give birth, are more prone to seeking help, more proactive, etc.
Socio-economic status (SES) - Answers - - High SES = less use of system, more use of
specialists
- Low SeS = high use of system, less use of specialists
Culture - Answers - - Visible minorities use the system more; less use of specialists
- Ethnics made 4 + visits
- Linguistic barriers - seen a lot in Canada
- Perceived quality of care
Social Psychological - Answers - - Individual attitude/beliefs about symptoms and health
care (if you think negatively about the system, you are most likely going to have a
negative experience; negative thinking)
- Health belief model predictors:
1. Perceived threat to health - perception of severity influences help seeking
2. Belief of efficacy of intervention - knowing that there is a clear treatment will increase
likeliness to seek help. Not knowing decreases likeliness.
Misuse of Health Services - Answers - Instances where the system is used incorrectly:
- Physical symptoms associated with emotional disturbances
- Symptoms triggered by psychological drivers
- Worried well individuals
- Somatacizers
- Secondary gains
Symptoms triggered by psychological drivers - Answers - o University students' disease
o Inappropriate assessment by patient (physician vs. specialist)
o Limited access - quicker/easier to see a doctor for physical health than a
psychologist/psychotherapist for mental health
Worried well individuals - Answers - Individuals who place over emphasis on symptoms
due to heightened self-care; use system a lot for small things.
Somatacizers - Answers - People who express symptoms after personal or emotional
insult; expressing physical symptoms from overwhelming change in your life.
E.g. getting dumped and feeling like crap
Secondary gains - Answers - Downstream benefits arising form the illness, such as:
- Time off/rest
- Removal from responsibilities
- Medical (physical ability limited) vs. psychological symptoms (PTSD, resulting in
reassignment for work)
, Delay Behaviour - Answers - Patients live with one or more potentially serious
symptoms without proper care.
- Delay = time between recognition and treatment.
Types of Delay Behaviour - Answers - Composed of several time periods:
- Appraisal delay
- Illness delay
- Behavioural delay
- Medical delay
- Treatment delay
- Provider delay
Appraisal delay - Answers - Symptom is serious.
- The time from noticing the symptom and believed it is serious.
Illness delay - Answers - Symptom implies an illness.
How long it takes you to believe that it is an actual illness.
Behavioural delay - Answers - Time between recognition and treatment.
How long it takes you to modify your behaviour and go to the doctor.
Medical delay - Answers - Time between appointment and treatment.
How long it takes you to see a professional.
- Out of your control, and is a problem with our system
Treatment delay - Answers - Occurs after primary visit due to:
- Curiosity being satisfied by the first visit
- Fear/alarm of symptoms/diagnosis
Provider delay - Answers - Occurs due to physician or treatment algorithm.
- If you need to do a bunch of things before you can start the treatment
- If the doctor needs to figure something out before providing treatment
Predictors of Delay Behaviour - Answers - - Elderly delay less
- Lack of regular physician
- Personal views/fears
- Frequency of symptom occurrence
- Personal safety assessment of symptom: highly visible, degree of pain, degree of
change, incapacitating
Health Care Providers - Answers - - Phsyician
- Physician assistant
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurses
- Health educators/nutritionists
