The Relation Between the Phenomena of Disease, Illness, and Suffering

Abstract

Persons experiencing disease and illness experience suffering as well. How nurses assess patients' problems holistically has been debated a lot. This article suggests one possible way of assessing patients' situation as a whole by seeing patients' diseases in relation to suffering.

The home as ethos of caring: A concept determination

“…This kind of atmosphere can lead to feelings of homelessness, that is, a patient can be cut off from one’s self, others, and the surrounding world. 16,37 This is in line with the findings in earlier studies, which argued that even though care settings were “homelike,” the patients did not necessarily experience at-homeness. 13 –15 In this study, the aim was to determine the ontology and epistemic category of the concept of home.…”

“…11,16 Feelings of not belonging to a place tend to be alienating and threatening to a person’s existence, which can be associated with desolation and suffering. 14,16,35 –37 Nurses experiencing at-homeness are more sensitive to patients’ and family members’ fragility and appeal for help. They feel an obligation toward the patients in helping them.…”

“…The experience of homelessness is often described as the opposite of at-homeness and can be compared to the concept of suffering. 35 –37…”