In:
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, Wiley, Vol. 55, No. 5 ( 2014-10), p. 456-463
Abstract:
Illness perception ( IP ) concerns how patients evaluate living with a disease. To get a broader understanding of IP in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ), we investigated whether breathlessness is an important precursor of IP and whether IP in its turn is related to mental health, physical health and global quality of life ( QOL ). One hundred and fifty‐four patients with COPD participated in a cross‐sectional survey. Participants underwent pulmonary function testing, provided socio‐demographic and clinical information, and completed the following standardized instruments: Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, Respiratory Quality of Life Questionnaire, Short‐Form 12 Health Survey and the Quality of Life Scale. Multiple regression analyses were performed. A high IP score indicates that a patient believes that his/her illness represents a threat. Participants with a high score on the IP dimensions consequences , identity , concern and emotional representation , experienced more breathlessness. High scores on the IP dimensions consequences , identity and concern were associated with impaired physical health and high scores on the IP dimensions consequences , identity and emotional representation were associated with impaired mental health. Impaired global QOL was associated with high scores on the IP dimensions consequences , identity , concern , coherence and emotional representation . The strength of the associations between breathlessness and physical/mental health and global QOL decreased when certain dimensions of IP were included as predictors, indicating that IP to some extent acts as a mediating factor. These findings may have practical implications of patient counselling by helping COPD patients to cope with their disease by restructuring their personal models of illness.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0036-5564
,
1467-9450
DOI:
10.1111/sjop.2014.55.issue-5
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2014
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2022171-X
SSG:
5,2
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