Attributions and inflammatory bowel disease: patients' perceptions of illness causes and the effects of these perceptions on relationships.
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Adult↗
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Results for “illness perception”
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Culture and illness: parents' perceptions of their child's long term illness.
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Attitude to Health↗
The cardiac patient and exercise: a sociobehavioral analysis.
Health beliefs (health motivation, perceptions of illness, perceptions of resusceptibility, efficacy of treatment, barriers to treatment, and cues to taking health-related action), HLOC, patient satisfaction, social support, and self-motivation were studied in a group of cardiac patients (N = 41; 39 men and two women) who initiated and completed a phase II outpatient cardiac exercise program. Twenty-three had MI and 18 had CABG. They ranged in age from 34 to 75 years with a mean age of 53 1/2 years. Regarding health beliefs, the only subscales not reflecting the tendency toward compliant behavior were general health motivation and cues to taking health-related action. Scores on the remaining measures revealed a tendency for subjects to be externally controlled, satisfied with the program and staff, recipients of social support, and self-motivated. Although it was anticipated that patients with MI would differ significantly from patients who had CABG regarding these measures, this was not found to be true. A correlation matrix revealed that the most remarkable relationships were those between perceptions of severity of illness and general health motivation; HLOC and general health motivation; perceptions of severity and resusceptibility; cues to taking health-related action and satisfaction with the program staff; and satisfaction with the program and the program staff. Interestingly, perceptions of resusceptibility were negatively related to social support and self-motivation.
Adult↗
Explaining health and illness: lay perceptions on current and future health, the causes of illness, and the nature of recovery.
Nearly 350 British respondents completed four questionnaires derived from Stainton Rogers [1], on the perceptions on health and recovery from illness. They were also asked to provide a number of demographic details (sex, age, education, voting pattern) and their experience of alternative medicine. Each of the questionnaires was factor analysed to show the underlying structure. The demographic, psychographic and individual difference belief variables were then regressed on to each factor derived from each questionnaire. Religious and political beliefs, as well as attitudes to alternative medicine, were the most consistent and powerful predictors of the health-related beliefs. These results are discussed in terms of the emerging literature on health beliefs.
Adult↗
The role of perceived and actual disease status in adjustment to rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the role and relative impact of illness perceptions, coping strategies and clinical disease indicators on adjustment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHOD: Participants were 75 women with rheumatoid arthritis. The Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ), the COPE questionnaire and the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS) were administered during a semistructured interview. Disease status was indicated by physician ratings of joint involvement and by the laboratory indices of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: Statistically significant correlations (P<0.01) were in the expected direction. Various aspects of adjustment (good physical function, low pain and depression) were associated with perceptions of low illness identity, high control/cure, more serious illness consequences and long illness timeline. Low disease activity was related to good physical function. Depression was associated with high use of coping by denial and with less frequent use of five COPE strategies: active coping, planning, seeking instrumental social support, positive reinterpretation and growth, and acceptance. In hierarchical regression analysis, disease status explained variance in physical function (15%). Illness perceptions accounted for variance in all three adjustment outcomes, ranging from 22 to 27%. Coping variables did not add to the explanation of variance on adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Illness perceptions have significant implications for adaptation to illness and they outweigh the impact of medical disease status on depression, physical function and pain. Health interventions based on understanding and modifying perceptions of illness may prove useful in facilitating patient well-being.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
Perception of illness and depression in chronic renal disease.
The causes, extent, and quantification of depression in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have been a concern of psychologists and physicians. To assess depression and its possible causes, 57 patients with ESRD treated with hemodialysis (HD, n = 43) or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD, n = 14) and 16 patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) were interviewed and completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Illness Effects Questionnaire (IEQ). An ESRD severity coefficient was used to measure chronic illness severity in the patients treated with dialysis, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels were used to assess severity of renal disease and adequacy of treatment. A cognitive item subset of the BDI (CDI) was used as a measure of depression. When patients treated with HD and CAPD were compared, CAPD patients were younger, had a shorter duration of dialysis treatment, and less severe medical illness, but the groups did not differ on the IEQ, BDI, or CDI. The IEQ did not correlate with age or disease variables. Both the CDI and the total BDI scores correlated with the IEQ. Perception of illness (IEQ) correlated significantly with cognitive depression for the CAPD and HD patients. For CAPD patients only, a significant correlation between the IEQ and severity of medical illness was obtained. Perception of illness and creatinine concentration were strongly correlated with cognitive depression in the patients with CRI as well. For all renal patients, level of depression was more strongly related to perception of illness than physical illness variables.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult↗
"...it's all the same no matter how much fruit or vegetables or fresh air we get": traveller women's perceptions of illness causation and health inequalities.
This paper explores the perceptions of illness causation and health inequalities of Travellers, an ethnic minority group who experience considerable social and health disadvantages in Ireland. In order to allow for subjective meanings to emerge, a qualitative methodology with purposive sampling was employed. Participants in the study were invited to respond to a vignette in a focus group setting. Forty-one Traveller women were recruited to the focus groups through community projects or adult education initiatives. The study not only illustrates the complexity of lay perceptions of ill-health and health inequalities, but raises important questions about the prevalence of depression and of domestic violence in the Travelling community. These Traveller women were very willing to discuss the structural factors that contributed to their health status, attributing ill-health to social and environmental factors, such as accommodation, hardship and discrimination. Further, they broadly rejected behavioural explanations of the heart disease described in the vignette. Traveller women's understandings of health and the factors that determine it are deeply embedded in the social context of their lives and their ethnic identity. These findings are discussed in the context of social identity and ethnicity, and contribute to theoretical debates about the role of that identity in recognising inequality. The study revealed that Traveller women see many shortcomings in health service provision. They need service provision to be culturally sensitive and responsive to their needs.
Adult↗
[Clinical features of ischemic heart disease and modes of subjective perception of illness].
The sample included 91 inpatients with different clinical forms of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and modes of subjective perception of illness (subjective meaning of illness). Prichard's Reaction to Illness Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depressive Scale, Rotter's Internal-External Control Scale and Illness Locus of Control Scale (Bevz I.A.,1998) were used on day 14 after admission for qualification of the patient's subjective perception of illness. The following clinical predictors of hypernosognia (inadequately high subjective significance of illness) were revealed: 1) the onset of IHD in midlife (<65 years) with its subsequent fast progression including high incidence of recurrent coronary events and/or congestive heart failure, 2) "typical" and protracted angina pectoris, 3) cardiac arrhythmias accompanying persistent high heart rate (sinus tachycardia, chronic atrial fibrillation, frequent extrasystoles) and defying any self-care, and 4) severe heart failure. On the other hand clinical predictors of hyponosognosia (inadequately low subjective significance of illness) included 1) the onset of IHD in elderly individuals (>65 years) and its subsequent slow progression without recurrent coronary events and/or congestive heart failure, 2) the socalled "anginal syndrome" (lack of angina's coupling with psychical exertion, atypical pain location, inconstant efficiency of nitroglycerin) and silent myocardial ischemia, 3) the paroxysmal cardiac arrhythmias (infrequent extrasystoles, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachyarrhythmias) with normal or slow heart rate between the paroxysms and high efficiency of self-care, and 4) mild to moderate heart failure. The findings are discussed in terms of prediction of specific modes of subjective perception of illness and its practical implications for correction of patient's attitude to his/her disease, correction of non-compliance, optimization of therapeutical alliance and use of heart care resources.
Aged↗
Acute lower respiratory infections in Gambian children: maternal perception of illness.
A study of mothers' perceptions of childhood acute respiratory infections (ARI) was performed in a rural Gambian population. A total of 25,046 interviews were recorded over a 1-year period with mothers from three villages and four hamlets, and these were analysed together with the results of surveillance of their children for episodes of ARI. Mothers recognized acute lower respiratory infection as a severe disease and recognized fast and difficult breathing as features which discriminated it from upper respiratory infections (sensitivity 73%, specificity 73%). They sought treatment for their children on 51% of occasions when chest pain was reported and on 70% of occasions when 'open chest' was reported. We conclude that even in poorly educated populations in which traditional medical beliefs and practices are widespread, it may be possible to educate mothers to identify lower respiratory infections and to seek early treatment. Community education should play a major role in all national ARI programmes and may be a critical determinant of the success of case management strategies in preventing ARI-related mortality in children.
Acute Disease↗
Poverty and mental illness: patients' perceptions of poverty as an etiological factor in their illness.
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Adolescent↗
Cancer patients psychological adjustment and perception of illness: cultural differences between Belgium and Turkey.
Little is known about cultural differences in psychological adjustment and perception of illness (PI) during medical procedures in general and radiotherapy in particular. This study compares a Turkish (TP) and a French speaking Belgian (BP) population. A group of 296 consecutive patients attending the radiotherapy clinic of Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, (n = 172) and Oncology Institute, Capa-Istanbul, (n = 124) were interviewed and assessed by a symptom checklist, the SCL-90-R, at the beginning and at the end of the radiotherapy. PI, derived from a semi-structured interview, was assessed at the beginning of radiotherapy by a five-point observer-rating scale derived from the Omega Vulnerability Rating Scale. Differences in SCL-90-R scores, taking into account country, age, gender, level of education and PI as potential explanatory variables, have been tested by a multivariate analysis of variance with a design of repeated measures using the SCL-90-R scores as dependent variables. Mainly a time effect and a country effect have been found. Some interactions between both effects have also been found. Globally, all the SCL-90-R scores decrease between the beginning and the end of the radiotherapy. The effect of country is noticeable for most of the SCL-90-R components, with higher scores in the BP, except for the positive symptom total score where the TP showed higher scores. The interaction between country and time is not significant, the scores of both the BP and TP decreasing over time, except for somatization scores (P < 0.001) where the scores of the BP were stable over time while the scores of the TP decreased considerably, and for paranoid ideation scores (P = 0.001) where the scores of the BP decreased while the scores of the TP increased. Results showed a higher rate of correct perception in the BP compared to the TP (P = 0.0001). A PI effect has been found for somatization (P = 0.02), anxiety (P = 0.01) and Global Severity Index scores (P = 0.05), with higher mean scores for the "correct perception" category. No interaction with time was found. A significant interaction effect between country and PI has been found for anxiety scores with higher scores in the correct perception category in the BP and in the "denial of implications" category in the TP (P < 0.001). Results highlight cultural differences in psychological adjustment and/or in the responses to self-report questionnaires: greater weight was given to items by the BP, more numerous items were scored by the TP, and greater weight was given to the somatization subscale compared to the psychological subscales by the TP. This study suggests that psychosocial distress is expressed differently in Belgium and Turkey, where patients express mostly somatic complaints. Finally PI, a culture-dependent factor, appears to influence psychological adjustment very differently, a correct perception of illness leading to more anxiety in the BP compared to the TP.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
Health belief model about diabetes mellitus in Thailand: the culture consensus analysis.
BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a chronic disease, which requires patient participation. The outcome of treatment depends on the patient health belief model (HBM) and illness perception. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the HBM and illness perception in diabetic patients by culture consensus analysis model. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifty diabetic patients were randomly selected at the out patient diabetic clinic from 4 hospitals, Maharaj Lampang hospital, Maharaj Nakorn rachasrima hospital, Hadyai hospital, and Lerdsin hospital to represent 4 regions of Thailand. Data from each patient was collected by using questionnaire. Anthropac version 4.98 was used to do consensus analysis RESULTS: Two-hundred diabetic patients from four political regions were assessed Only Songkla culture showed a diabetes heath belief pattern at the eigenvalue ratio at 3.8 and competency score at 0.72 +/- 11 (mean +/- SD). This pattern was created because Sonkla had more diabetes knowledge sources compared to other regions (p = 0.01). The ability of Songkla member to fit in the group was not related to any medical and socioeconomic factor (p > 0.05). The authors postulated that past experience or culture might determine this. Songkla diabetes beliefs were described and compared to biomedically correct information. The treatment process based on HBM and illness perception concepts were also discussed. The result of the research led to a Lerdsin diabetes self help group in the hospital. CONCLUSION: From this study, Thailand does not have HBM about diabetes mellitus. Only the Songkla community does. Past experience and culture might determine the pattern of HBM in this community.
Adult↗
Quality-of-life in DDDR pacing: atrioventricular synchrony or rate adaptation?
Although differences in exercise performance have been observed between different rate adaptive modes, the relative impact of atrioventricular (AV) synchrony and rate adaptation on quality of life (QOL) have not been determined. Thirty-three patients with either sinoatrial disease (18) or complete atrioventricular (AV) block (15) received DDDR pacemakers (16 minute ventilation sensing, 17 activity sensing). There were 11 males and 22 females, with a mean age of 66 +/- 1 (range 39-78) years. The study was a double-blind, triple cross-over study comparing DDDR, DDD, and VVIR modes. At the end of each 8-week study period in each mode, QOL was assessed by a questionnaire evaluating patients' functional class (Classes I-IV), physical malaise inventory (41 items), illness perception (43 items), and overall QOL rating based on a 48 items measure covering different aspects of the patients' daily life adjustment. Two patients required early crossover from VVIR mode during the study. Patients experienced significantly fewer physical malaise such as temperature intolerance, dyspnea, and palpitations in the DDDR mode, compared with either DDD or VVIR pacing. DDDR pacing reduced the perception of illness in 5 of 43 items compared to VVIR pacing, and improved stamina and appetite compared to DDD pacing. The overall QOL score was 102 +/- 2, 105 +/- 2, 113 +/- 2 in the DDDR, DDD, and VVIR modes, respectively, with a higher score indicating a poorer QOL (DDDR/DDD vs VVIR, P < 0.02). There was no change in functional classes between the three pacing modes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult↗
Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: patient beliefs and health-related behaviour.
OBJECTIVE: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of illness and death in Western society. The present study was designed to evaluate the utility of illness perceptions and medication beliefs in predicting secondary preventive behaviour among patients with CHD. An extended version of Leventhal's self-regulatory model (SRM) was used as a theoretical framework for this study [Leventhal H, Nerenz DR, Steele DJ. Illness perceptions and coping with health threat. In: Baum A, Taylor SE, Singer JE, editors. Handbook of psychology and health, Volume IV: social psychological aspects of health. Hillsdale (NJ): Erlbaum, 1984. pp. 219-52; Horne R, Weinman J. Self-regulation and self-management in asthma: exploring the role of illness perceptions and treatment beliefs in explaining non-adherence to preventer medication. Psychol Health 2002;17(1):17-32]. METHOD: Medical and demographic data were gathered from the medical charts of 1611 patients with established CHD from 35 randomly selected general practices. Self-report data about patients' lifestyles (diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption and medication adherence) and information on illness and medication beliefs were provided from postal questionnaire (1084 patients responded; 69% response rate). The relationship between patients' beliefs and their secondary preventive behaviour was examined using regression analyses. RESULTS: Illness perceptions appeared to be only weak predictors of smoking, exercise, diet, alcohol consumption and medication adherence, accounting for about 2% of the variance in these behaviours. Medication beliefs were moderately related to medication adherence, accounting for about 7% of the variance in scores. A strong belief in the necessity of one's medication and a lower level of concern about one's medication were associated with higher levels of adherence. CONCLUSIONS: An illness perception approach did not prove helpful in predicting secondary preventive behaviour among this group of patients. However, beliefs about medications appear to be reasonable predictive of medication adherence.
Aged↗
Information about migraine disability influences physicians' perceptions of illness severity and treatment needs.
OBJECTIVE: To assess physician-patient communication about headache-related disability and to evaluate the influence of information about disability on physicians' perceptions of illness severity and the treatment needs of migraineurs. BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that migraine is suboptimally treated in clinical practice, partly due to poor communication between physicians and their patients. METHODS: One hundred five neurologists and primary care physicians with an interest in headache participated in two interactive surveys, one in North America (n=42) and one in Europe (n=63). Each survey focused on the evaluation of four videotaped migraine cases. The first case was evaluated twice, initially after a typical symptom history that centered on diagnosis and then following a fuller history of migraine disability. Additional questions assessed the extent of the collection of migraine disability information in clinical practice. RESULTS: Physicians reported that they recorded symptoms relating to diagnosis (eg, pain location/intensity, associated symptoms) rather than information on headache-related disability. Only about one third of patients volunteered disability information. When made available to them, physicians rated information on disability as one of the most important factors in assessing treatment needs. In particular, when physicians knew the patient's disability history: (1) the proportion of physicians who rated the patient's illness as "severe" increased by 128% in North America, 27% in Europe; (2) the proportion of physicians who recommended immediate treatment increased by 63% in North America, 37% in Europe; and (3) the proportion of patients recommended for a follow-up visit increased by 15% in North America, 18% in Europe. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians and patients often fail to discuss headache-related disability during consultation. This information has a powerful influence on physicians' perceptions of illness severity, treatment choice, and the need for follow-up. Tools to improve communication about headache-related disability, such as the Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaire, may favorably improve migraine management.
Adult↗
Concepts of illness and perception of control in healthy children and in children with chronic illnesses.
Healthy children, children with seizure disorders, and children with orthopedic conditions, ranging in age from 5 to 16 years old, were questioned about their knowledge of disease etiology, treatment, and prevention, and their health locus of control beliefs, to explore the relationship between illness-related concept attainment and perceived control over health. Children who perceived greater personal control over health demonstrated a more sophisticated conceptual understanding of disease than did children with a more external orientation. Healthy children scored significantly higher on the illness concepts questions and expressed significantly more internal health locus of control beliefs than did their peers with a chronic physical illness. Perceived control over health appears to be one factor that mediates the relationship between illness experience and understanding.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
Patient Interpretation of Neuropathy (PIN) questionnaire: an instrument for assessment of cognitive and emotional factors associated with foot self-care.
OBJECTIVE: Using the common-sense model of illness behavior, we developed and validated a self-report instrument for assessment of patients' cognitive and emotional representations of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) influencing foot self-care. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Patient Interpretation of Neuropathy (PIN) questionnaire, generated from discussions with clinicians and interviews with patients with DPN, was administered to patients with DPN attending U.K. (n = 325) and U.S. (n = 170) diabetes centers. Psychometric tests of the PIN questionnaire comprised factor analysis, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. Partial correlations and multivariate regressions established construct and criterion-related validity. The associations of PIN scales to past foot ulceration and foot self-care behaviors were compared with those using a generic measure of illness perception and emotion, the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), which was adapted to neuropathy. RESULTS: Factor analysis of the PIN questionnaire produced 11 scales, which explained 69% of item variance. Nine factors measured patients' common-sense beliefs about DPN and their levels of understanding of DPN-related medical information. Two factors assessed the emotions of worry about potential consequences and anger at practitioners. Most scales demonstrated adequate internal (Cronbach's alpha = 0.62-0.90) and test-retest reliability (Pearson's r = 0.51-0.64). Partial correlations between the PIN and IPQ-R scales in corresponding domains were significant but modest (rp = 0.15-0.26). Finally, PIN scales showed significant associations with past foot ulceration and foot self-care behaviors, thereby confirming criterion validity. CONCLUSIONS: The 39-item PIN questionnaire is a reliable and valid measure of patients' cognitive and emotional representations of neuropathy affecting foot self-care.
Aged↗
Psychological impact of cancer on adolescents: self-image, locus of control, perception of illness and knowledge of cancer.
Two hundred and three healthy adolescents were compared with 31 adolescent cancer patients on self-image, health locus of control, perception of illness, and knowledge of cancer. No differences were found between the patient and the control groups on self-image. Adolescents with cancer had significantly lower internal orientation scores and higher external health locus of control scores. The adolescent patients also perceived cancer to be significantly less severe and better understood by doctors and they believed that cancer patients had a higher probability of recovery compared with normals. No differences were noted on a knowledge of cancer test between groups. Support was found for the theory that cancer diagnosis does influence health perception but does not contribute to a lower self-image. Increased knowledge of cancer may benefit some patients in coping with their disease.
Adaptation, Psychological↗