Hi-
Perhaps the question of HOW MUCH 'less than perfect' is more important
than 'less than perfect'. Obviously, 'rationality' is bounded, and may
in fact be impaired when one is ill. How much one is able to assess own
health status can be clouded by the specific circumstance; that is, by
the degree or intensity of illness, prior medical knowledge, patient's
age, education, ... . Take the case of a do-it-yourselfer, whose toes
are accidentally damaged (not completely amputated) in a lawn mowing
activity in own yard. His initial reaction may be a belief in the
complete loss of 2 fingers for ever. Later, this is likely revised as
treatments begin and patient reassured by the attending surgeon that
full use of the fingers will be in order eventually. Now, it also
matters who the care taker is. If not a medical professional, the
assessment of the state of an ill health may be worse than that made by
a professional health personnel.....
For literature, you may wish to check with Health/Medical or Nursing
Psychology literature....
Good luck!
Prof. Albert A. Okunade
Department of Economics, Rm. 450BB
The FCBE
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN 38152
tel: (901) 678-2672; fax: (901) 678-2685
----- Original Message -----
From: Frederick Mugisha <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, August 16, 2001 1:56 am
Subject: Psycosocial costs
> Dear all,
> When a person is ill, he/she ranks his/her health status as less than
> perfect. But a person who takes care of him/her does so as well.
> Can one say
> this a reflection of pycosocial costs of illness? Does anyone have
> an idea
> of the literature one could read? Thanks
> Frederick
>
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