Acute illness behavior: A conceptual exploration and specification

Abstract

Abstract Illness behavior surrounding urgent and emergent illnesses has generally been ignored. Theseillnesses are thought to produce expedient care-seeking devoid of social process. On the basis of two studies of illness behavior associated with acute episodes of coronary artery disease, and studies of emergency medical systems (EMS) and emergency room (ER) utilization, tentative dimensions of acute illness behavior are explored and specified. The primary analytic scheme set forth focuses on the period from initial sign and symptom awareness to arrival at a definitive care hospital bed via six analytic care-seeking phases: the Prodromal Phase, the Self, Lay and Medical Evaluation Phases, the Hospital Travel Phase and the Hospital Evaluation Phase. The substantive nature of each phase is discussed and analytic care-seeking Paths to definitive medical care are specified. The primary behavioral process during the acute illness period is the development of a coping strategy to control the emerging illness. Following continual failure of coping resources and strategies to control signs and symptoms effectively, the individual experiences a health crisis for which more sophisticated medical resources are required—for example, physician consultation, EMS transport, and ER treatment. A sense of crisis is further generated by the organization and gatekeeping personnel of medical care resources, namely, office receptionists, EMS dispatchers, and ER clerks. Also, consideration is given to specifying the concepts of the lay referral system and the sick role to more adequately reflect the social processes and role relationships involved in the acute illness experience.