Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Illness stories: themes emerging through narrative.

Deborah Docherty1, Mary Ann McColl

  • 1Hotel Dieu Hospital.

Social Work in Health Care
|August 19, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Narrative inquiry offers profound insights into the lived experience of chronic illness. Analyzing personal stories reveals key themes like emotional responses, stress impact, views on death, and finding meaning, crucial for therapeutic relationships.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Spirituality in occupational therapy practice: A scoping review with narrative synthesis.

The British journal of occupational therapy·2025
Same author

Addressing client spirituality in occupational therapy practice: A qualitative study.

Australian occupational therapy journal·2025
Same author

How spirituality is understood in occupational therapy: A qualitative study.

Australian occupational therapy journal·2025
Same author

Adopting new habits and routines in response to COVID-19 lockdown disruptions: A qualitative study.

The British journal of occupational therapy·2024
Same author

Spirituality in Australian Health Professional Practice: A Scoping Review and Qualitative Synthesis of Findings.

Journal of religion and health·2023
Same author

Potentially harmful drug-drug interactions in the therapeutic regimens of persons with spinal cord injury.

The journal of spinal cord medicine·2023

Area of Science:

  • Qualitative Health Research
  • Narrative Inquiry
  • Medical Sociology

Background:

  • Chronic illness profoundly impacts individuals' lives.
  • Understanding patient experiences is vital for effective healthcare.
  • Narrative approaches offer unique perspectives on illness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the utility of narrative as a method for understanding chronic illness experiences.
  • To identify pervasive themes within first-person accounts of chronic illness.

Main Methods:

  • Phenomenological study design.
  • Integration of grounded theory and social constructionism.
  • Analysis of first-person narratives from individuals with chronic illness.

Main Results:

  • Four pervasive themes emerged: 'peak experiences' of diagnosis, stress as a symptom/coping factor, evolving views on death and life, and illness as a 'philosophy of life.'
  • Narrative analysis highlighted the subjective and deeply personal nature of chronic illness.
  • Identified themes underscore the psychological and existential dimensions of living with chronic illness.

Conclusions:

  • Narrative inquiry is a powerful tool for understanding the multifaceted experience of chronic illness.
  • The identified themes have significant implications for developing empathetic and effective therapeutic relationships.
  • Future research should further explore narrative's role in patient-centered care and chronic illness management.

Related Experiment Videos