Psychosocial Dimension of Children with Chronic Disease: A Case Study in Malaysia

Abstract

Psychosocial issues have been seen as minor in medicine despite the importance for holistic medical care involving emotional, spiritual and psychological domains. Most patients with chronic conditions have complex and complicated psychosocial needs especially when dealing children with life limiting conditions. These needs have a dynamic extension to patients’ care as its impact can also affect extended family members. Across the trajectory of the illnesses, the pattern of psychosocial needs changes and, this demands attending physicians to perform accurate psychosocial assessment and understanding issues from patients and caregivers perspective. Non-judgmental decision making is essential to avoid friction and misunderstanding between the healthcare providers and caregivers especially during the consultative process. Resolving psychosocial issue may involve various techniques from moral support, bridging the services to helping the family, counseling on relationship issues and many other areas. There is a need to equip healthcare workers with different skills in order to deliver a better psychosocial care and input even after the bereavement period.