Cognitive appraisal of illness versus expectations towards doctors and health-related behaviours in individuals with short- and long-standing diagnosis of type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with diabetes need to be actively involved in the treatment process, i.e. treatment regimens and regular health check-ups. The aims of the study were to assess the profiles of illness cognitive appraisals in individuals with type 2 diabetes, and to recognize the relationships between illness cognitive appraisals and both expectations towards doctors and readiness to health-related behaviours. Materials and methods: A total number of 99 participants with type 2 diabetes were divided into short- and long-standing diagnosis sub-groups. Illness-Related Appraisals Scale, The Patient Requests Form, Health-Related Behavior Inventory were administered. Results: The comparison of most representative profiles showed significant differences between sub-groups in perceiving the illness as threat, benefit, obstacle/loss. In both sub-groups, treating the illness as a benefit determined patient’s expectations of emotional support from doctors. In patients with long-standing diagnosis also threat, value, obstacle/loss and harm impact significantly on the patients’ expectations towards doctors. Treating the illness as a challenge explained about 24% of variability of eating habits and 29% of preventive behaviours. Conclusions: Participants with long-standing diagnosis treat their illness as threatening and disturbing. In these patients many dimensions of cognitive appraisal are related to seeking information about the illness and to a need of emotional support from doctors. On the contrary, in individuals with short-standing diagnosis, only perceiving their illness as a benefit is associated with the expectation towards their doctors to provide emotional support and explanation of the illness. Our study proved that perceiving the long-lasting illness as a challenge contributes to readiness to follow health-related behaviours. Keywords: type 2 diabetes, health-related behaviour, attitude to illness