There are three major ways in which the treatment of chronic illness and the treatment of acute illness differ. The first is the goal of treatment. The second is the difference in the relationship between medical professional and patient.
The third is the ongoing responsibility of the patient for his or her own health. If you break your arm (acute condition), the treatment goal is obvious—set the bone, and immobilize the fracture with a cast until healing takes place. The treatment goal is to fix the fracture. If you have an infection caused by bacteria, such as strep throat, the treatment goal is also clear—kill the bacteria. Antibiotics are prescribed and administered. The infection clears, and the patient resumes normal activities.
Since chronic illnesses can’t be cured, at least at this point in time, the treatment goals are very different. The goals of treatment in chronic illness are to minimize symptoms, long-term damage, and disease activity. While the course of action to achieve the treatment goals in acute illness is usually pretty clear, that’s not usually the case with chronic conditions.
People with one chronic disease often have other conditions, making the development of a treatment plan less cut and dried. The remitting/flaring nature of many chronic diseases, coupled with the fact that symptoms may change radically over time, make finding the proper course of treatment even more difficult.
The second major difference in the treatment of chronic illness versus the treatment of acute illness is the relationship between the medical professional and the patient. In the acute case of a broken bone or an infection, the doctor is the authority, and the treatment is clear. If you are sitting in the emergency room with a bone that is broken or a raging infection, you are not going to negotiate treatment options!
You rely on the doctor’s expertise and follow the treatment plan without question. In cases of chronic illness, the patient and the medical professional(s) have to work as partners in managing the disease.
The patient must learn self-management and become educated about the disease. And since there are no absolutes in the treatment of chronic illness, the patient and professional must develop a good working relationship with open channels of communication. Often, more than one treatment option is available.
While you are not likely to debate the need for a cast, if you have a chronic condition you may find yourself debating treatment options with your doctor. The third difference is in the role of the patient. It is the patient’s job to follow the treatment plan faithfully.
Medications must be taken as often as prescribed and according to directions. All the medicine in the world won’t do any good if it is not taken properly. The patient must monitor symptoms on a daily basis and then be very accurate in reporting those symptoms to the doctor at the next visit. The patient is also responsible for lifestyle changes—rest, exercise, nutrition, and stress management—that can minimize the effects of the disease.