BMJ 2002;324:487 ( 23 February )

Letters

Management of chronic disease

    System needs managing better
    Proactive medicine is better option
    Life is a chronic disease

System needs managing better

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR---With reference to Wagner's editorial on meeting the needs of chronically ill people, many doctors should remember that patients with chronic diseases are not always socially deprived, are often articulate when their condition is not debilitating their cognitive function, and cannot help being ill.1 Depression is more often brought on by the frustration of dealing with the medical system and attitudes than by the condition.

Could anyone imagine a well person being expected to recover from the effects of accidents or acute illnesses without necessary physiotherapy, treatments, or further follow up appointments? Yet it is expected of people who have a chronic condition, despite the knowledge that such incidents can exacerbate conditions. Is it because doctors are psychologically compartmentalising events into allowable chunks? Condition management is also pointless if patients cannot access the medical services at times when they need them most.

Patients also need to see the . . . [Full text of this article]
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Relevant Article

Meeting the needs of chronically ill people
Edward H Wagner
BMJ 2001 323: 945-946. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

A closer look at chronic illnesses
Chan C. Y. Zenobia
bmj.com, 2 Oct 2002 [Full text]
Re: A closer look at chronic illnesses
Peter Morrell
bmj.com, 4 Oct 2002 [Full text]
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