Seeking Validation

Hypothyroidism and the Chronic Illness Trajectory

Datos Bibliográficos

ID5455528
AutoresP Jane Milliken (School of Nursing and the Department of Sociology at the University of Victoria), Herbert C Northcott (0000-0002-7150-4412, University of Alberta)
Año1996
Volumen6
Número2
Páginas202-223
Fecha de publicación1996-05-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/104973239600600205
OpenAlexW2114426816
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas27

This study investigates the experience of women suffering from hypothyroidism. The course of hypothyroid disease is examined by applying and extending Anselm Strauss's theory of a chronic illness trajectory. Because the symptoms of hypothyroidism tend to be vague, subjectively experienced, insidious in onset, and cyclic in occurrence, many sufferers are required to engage in a process of 'seeking validation''for their illness in order to receive appropriate treatment. A grounded theory of seeking validation is described. Transcripts from semistructured interviews of 12 adult women were analyzed by the constant comparative method of grounded theory. This study will help hypothyroid sufferers to understand better the course of this disease and the nature of the validation process. Furthermore, this study will assist caregivers and families to achieve an empathic understanding of the illness from the sufferer's perspective

Developmental psychology · Disease · Grounded theory · Qualitative research · Clinical Psychology · Empathy and Medical Education · Ethics in medical practice · Medicine · Psychology