'Moving on': the transition to living well with chronic illness

This paper describes the process of 'moving on' when living with a chronic illness or condition. The findings of this study emerged from daily email conversations between six women who live with long term illness and the three researchers during a three month period in 2003. In collaboration with the women, researchers have drawn out seven interrelated themes which are seen to constitute the process of 'moving on'. The concept of readiness to change is discussed as fundamental to the relationship between potential learning as a result of living with illness and 'moving on'. We conclude that health workers are in a strong position to facilitate the learning that will assist people to 'move on' and incorporate illness as an ordinary part of life.