AB0744 HOW JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS PATIENTS PERCEIVE THEIR ILLNESS?

Abstract

Background:Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) represents the most common inflammatory rheumatism of childhood. Because of a prolonged course of active disease, many patients experience physical and psychosocial limitations. Illness perceptions involve the personal beliefs that patients have about their illness and may influence health behaviors considerably.Objectives:The present study aimed to investigate the illness perception of patients with JIA.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study including children with JIA (according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR)). We recorded sociodemographic data and the subtype of the JIA. To assess a child’s perception of how arthritis affects their life, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) was completed by the parent (child age ≤10 years) or by the child (age ≥11 years). The Brief IPQ is a nine-item questionnaire rated using a 0-to10 response scale that assesses cognitive illness representations: consequences (Item 1), timeline (Item 2), personal control (Item 3), treatment control (Item 4), and identity (Item 5). Two of the items assess emotional representations: concern (Item 6) and emotions (Item 8). One item assesses illness comprehensibility (Item 7).Results:The study included 22 patients. The mean age was 15 ± 7 years [4-35], and the mean age at diagnosis was 9 ±3 years [3-14]. There was a female predominance (sex ratio= 2.1). The frequency of each JIA subset was at follows: polyarticular with rheumatoid factor (n= 1), polyarticular without rheumatoid factor (n=3), systemic (n= 2), enthesitis-related arthritis (n=9), oligoarthritis (n= 7), undifferentiated (n=1). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were prescribed in 72% of cases, and Cs-DMARDs in 59% of patients. The most-reported causal factor in their illness was a history of traumatism (22%). Perceiving symptoms (identity) were significantly related to being affected by the disease (emotional response) (p= 0.01). Conversely, patients who had personal and treatment control expressed less emotional response (r = −0.7, r=-0.2 respectively). Moreover, those who were concerned about the disease perceived more the consequences of their illness (p=0.09) and understood it more (p=0.029). We also noted significant correlations between personal control and treatment control (p = 0.033). A positive correlation was found between identity as well as consequences and timeline (p=0.011, p=0.024), showing that the perception of chronicity was associated with pain and the burden of the disease.Conclusion:Our study highlighted the importance of assessing illness perception in JIA patients. Patient education programs should be implemented since diagnosis for better disease management.Disclosure of Interests:None declared