at has persisted for a long period of time. Specifically, chronic illness is conceptualized as a continuing disease process with progressive deterioration.
In summary then, the two basic constructs (coping and chronic illness) can be understood in terms of the notion that a chronic illness (a set of symptoms persisting over time leading to progressive deterioration) can be responded to with a certain strategies and skills (coping mechanisms) that will help patients improve their ability to live with the situation (cope). The constructs are rooted in Nursing theories.
As shown in the diagram, two-related concepts that can be derived from the just delineated basic constructs of the presented middle-level theory are: (1) self-help; and (2) coping mechanisms and skills. In order to fully understand the presented diagram, these also need to be defined.
Kreulen and Braden (2004) define ôself-helpö as the act or an instance of helping or improving oneself without assistance from others. However, the authors point out that people can learn self-help with the assistance of others and state that various nursing interventions are specifically, designed to promote self-help which they associate with ôself-careö in the sense of the patient caring for him- or herself during various stages of a given illness or chronic illness. Thus, self-help becomes the ability to care for oneself, without assistance, in response to the obstacles and challenges and needs associated with having an illness or a chronic illness.
Also, in an earlier article, Braden (1991) ties the concept of self-help even closer to
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