Philip H.N. Wood

Coming to terms with chronic illness: The negotiation of autonomy in rheumatoid arthritis

This paper examines ways in which daily life is sustained in the face of chronic illness. Using data from interviews with people with rheumatoid arthritis, we try to capture the complexity of the interdependence between individuals with chronic illness and society. The main areas focused on cover the disordered body, disruption of relationships, and management of a deviant identity. What emerges is the relativities in everyday negotiations involved as people assimilate or come to terms with the circumstances of disablement. A great deal of research by rehabilitation specialists and advocates of independent living makes use of an abstract notion of the individual and a categorical definition of independence. We suggest that through the subtle relativities individuals in fact sustain considerably more self-determination than is suggested by prevalent notions of independence. This state of affairs is more appropriately referred to as autonomy. The implications of this perspective for health care professionals are discussed.

The language of disablement: a glossary relating to disease and its consequences.

This paper presents a glossary of terms relevant to some of the consequences of disease. The glossary was originally prepared as an appendix to the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps, but ultimately it was not possible for it to be included in this publication. Although the work cannot be regarded either as official or as definitive, it is offered as a contribution to resolving some of the difficulties encountered by those in rehabilitation medicine when they try to communicate with each other.

Maladies imaginaires: Some common misconceptions about the ICIDH

This paper attempts to temper unrealistic expectations by clarifying what the ICIDH is, particularly through a review of what it is not. Recognizing that the approach is intended to be applied for a variety of purposes, a summary of the key properties of the information required for different tasks is also presented.

Problems of communication in chronic illness

(1979). Problems of communication in chronic illness. International Rehabilitation Medicine: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 130-134.

A man's reach should exceed his grasp

Dr P. J. R. Nichols was the spark for two complementary initiatives, foundation of the Society for Research in Rehabilitation in Great Britain and establishment of this Journal. These initiatives were based on two insights, that rehabilitation would not make significant progress unless there was more rigorous and scholarly scrutiny of practice, and that responsibility for such advance would rest on multidisciplinary involvement. The development of the Society for Research in Rehabilitation is reviewed from these perspectives, and the Societys interaction with the relevant government department is examined. It is suggested that the focus on rehabilitation in the title of the Society poses problems, tending to foster differences between the various professional groups involved. The latter are reviewed in terms of their training and previous experience, making contrasts between an intellectual or scientific discipline and a branch of professional expertise; the dubious value of all-purpose research methods courses emerges from the analysis. There is a crisis in disability research--funding is hard to come by, there are no significant career prospects for those who might take up this work, and, in Great Britain at least, it has become increasingly difficult to make time for research because of the pressure of service commitments. At a deeper level, disability studies still await a paradigm; behavioural insights have yet to be assimilated fully, too often being regarded as factors to be woven into some mechanistic thread of understanding rather than appreciating that the challenge is existential rather than abstract.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The assessment of physical independence handicap: experience in a community disablement survey

Two approaches to the ascertainment of physical independence handicap have been explored using data from a survey of disablement in the population. The survey used a two-stage methodology with an initial postal shift to ascertain those with selected disabilities, a stratified random sample of whom were followed-up with an in-depth interview. The first approach to handicap was direct ascertainment of the scale categories by means of a question in the interview schedule. The second approach was to synthesize the scale categories from the answers to interview questions about disabilities in activities of daily living and other relevant factors. The final synthesized algorithm gave a 75% match within one scale point with the direct question and 85% agreement with receipt of attendance allowance, a state benefit paid to those meeting certain criteria for dependence on others. The lessons learned from the work have been incorporated in a revised and expanded scale, which is suggested as a starting point for revision of physical independence dimension of handicap.

Insurance and the disabled

The provision of life insurance for the disabled has been investigated to determine the extent to which the perceived disadvantage expressed by some disabled groups was real and, if real, justified. Life cover for a particular disability is likely to be offered only by the few companies with experience of it; however, the ratings charged appear usually to be a fair reflection of the limited and often poor information available. The response of organizations for the disabled to this problem has been reviewed, and possible strategies to enable the disabled to obtain insurance are suggested.

Impairment, disability, and the ICIDH model II: The nature of the underlying condition and patterns of impairment

This paper presents a further exploration of the conceptual scheme proposed in the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps which links underlying condition, impairment and disability. It examines the proposal that three general patterns of impairment profile might be expected depending on whether the underlying condition affects control (as in stroke or multiple sclerosis), mechanical performance (as in arthritis) or energy (as in cardiorespiratory conditions). Examination of patterns of functional limitation shows more resemblance between conditions in each of these groups than between the groups lending support to the proposal.

Assessing disablement status in multiple sclerosis.

This paper is based on a critique of selected aspects of previous experience in assessing disablement status in people suffering from multiple sclerosis. It considers the influence of purpose on the approach to assessment by contrasting clinical assessments carried out for individual care with those where it is intended to pool experience for wider application. The nature of assessment is then discussed, and technical considerations such as correlation, scoring, statistical tests, and distributional characteristics.

Such sweet sorrow.

From the combination of knowledge and actions, someone can improve their skill and ability. It will lead them to live and work much better. This is why, the students, workers, or even employers should have reading habit for books. Any book will give certain knowledge to take all benefits. This is what this such sweet sorrow tells you. It will add more knowledge of you to life and work better. Try it and prove it.