Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire Scores Research Articles

A survey on prevalence and parents’ perceptions of food allergy in 3- to 16-year-old children in Wuhan, China

BackgroundThe prevalence of food allergy (FA) has risen in recent decades, yet there is limited data on the cognition and beliefs of FA among the parents of FA children. ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of FA and assess the knowledge and perception of FA among parents of FA children in Wuhan, China. MethodsOnline questionnaires were conducted for the parents of 3- to 16-year-old children. They reported symptoms of suspected FA in the screening questionnaire were interviewed for further diagnostic evaluation. All the parents of the suspected FA children completed the subsequent assessments of the knowledge and perception on FA as well as their attitude towards the current online platforms. ResultsA total of 1963 children were recruited. The prevalence of self-reported FA was 10.2% (95% CI: 8.1–12.4%) and the physician-diagnosed FA was 6.2% (95% CI: 5.1–7.2%) in 3- to 16-year-olds in Wuhan. And the children with family history (57.9%) were predisposed to developing FA (P＜0.001). The total Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) score was 41.3 ± 10.0 among the parents. The B-IPQ scores correlated with symptom onset, but not with family history or other atopic comorbidities. The parents who never sought treatments obtained lower B-IPQ scores on most items compared to those who received treatments. The accuracy rate of the FA knowledge questionnaire was 56.7%. 11.6% of participants reported that children's FA had an impact on their lives. 67.2% of participants had searched information of FA online, among whom 80% expected to obtain professional suggestions on management and prevention strategies of FA from online platform. ConclusionIn 3- to 16-year-old children in Wuhan, the prevalence of self-reported and physician-diagnosed FA was 10.2% and 6.2% respectively. Parents’ knowledge of FA was insufficient and only a small proportion of parents perceived that their lives and careers have been affected considerably by FA of their children. Patient education and current online platforms should be improved among parents of FA children.

Impact of biological rhythms on perception of illness and cognitive flexibility in bipolar patients in remission

ABSTRACT Our study aims to examine the possible mediating effects of biological rhythms on the relationship between illness perception, cognitive flexibility, and functionality in bipolar patients in remission. A total of 150 patients with bipolar disorder (BD) were enrolled. The sociodemographic data form, Biological Rhythm Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN), Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS), Young Mania Rating Scale, Montgomery and Asberg Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Short Functionality Assessment Scale were applied to the patients in the study. The mean age of the patients was 42.10 ± 12.92 (SD). The participants were 48.7% (n = 73) female and 66.6% (n = 100) BD-I. There was a negative correlation between the total BRIAN score and favorable BIPQ scores and a positive correlation between the total BRIAN score and unfavorable BIPQ scores (except timeline). Additionally, multiple regression analyses revealed that the total BRIAN score could predict favorable BIPQ (except treatment control) and unfavorable BIPQ (except timeline) scores (p < 0.05). The total CFS score also could predict favorable BIPQ (treatment control) and unfavorable BIPQ scores (except timeline). The second step mediation analysis showed that biological rhythm mediated the relationship between illness perception and cognitive flexibility. Our study found that biological rhythms played a full mediating role in the relationship between the perception of illness and cognitive flexibility. In addition, worsening in biological rhythms in bipolar patients could cause negative beliefs and attitudes towards their diseases with an unfavorable clinical course. Therefore, regularity in biological rhythms should be highly recommended for bipolar patients.

The Impact of Delirium after Radical Prostatectomy on Cognitive Function and Health Perception during the Recovery Period.

This study aims to investigate the influence of delirium following radical prostatectomy on cognitive function and health perception during the recovery period. Data were collected from patients who underwent radical prostatectomy at our institution between May 2020 and May 2022. Postoperative delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU), categorising patients into delirium and non-delirium groups. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) were employed to evaluate patients' mental health pre-and post-surgery. Comparative analyses were conducted between patients with and without delirium in the critical care unit, and correlation analyses were performed. The study revealed a delirium incidence rate of 19.13%. Patients in the delirium group exhibited significantly higher age and ICU length of stay compared to those without delirium (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in MoCA scores one day before surgery and seven days after surgery, as well as BIPQ scores one day before surgery, five days after surgery and seven days after surgery between the delirium and non-delirium groups (p > 0.05); However, the MoCA scores in the delirium group were significantly lower than those of the non-delirium group on the second and fifth days post-surgery. Additionally, the BIPQ scores in the delirium group were significantly higher than those in the non-delirium group two days after surgery (p < 0.001). A moderate negative correlation was observed between MoCA scores and CAM-ICU scores, and a moderate positive correlation was identified between BIPQ scores and CAM-ICU scores (p < 0.001). Patients experiencing delirium after radical prostatectomy are at a higher risk of cognitive function impairment and disease threat perception. A significant correlation exists between postoperative delirium and cognitive function as well as health perception.

Two-year trajectories of COVID-19 symptoms and their association with illness perception: A prospective cohort study in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

We used data from a prospective cohort to explore 2-year trajectories of 'long COVID' (persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection) and their association with illness perception. RECoVERED participants (adults; prospectively enrolled following laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, May 2020-June 2021) completed symptom questionnaires at months 2-12, 18 and 24, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) at months 1, 6 and 12. Using group-based trajectory models (GBTM), we modelled symptoms (mean total numbers and proportion with four specific complaints), including age, sex, BMI and timing of infection as covariates. In a multivariable linear mixed-effects model, we assessed the association between symptom trajectories and repeated B-IPQ scores. Among 292 participants (42% female; median age 51 [IQR = 36-62]), four trajectories were identified, ranging from Trajectory 4 (8.9%; 6 + symptoms) to Trajectory 1 (24.8%; no symptoms). The occurrence of fatigue and myalgia increased among 23% and 12% of participants, respectively. Individuals in Trajectory 4 experienced more negative adjusted B-IPQ scores over time than those in Trajectories 1-3. We observed little fluctuation in the total number of symptoms, but individual symptoms may develop as others resolve. Reporting a greater number of symptoms was congruent with more negative illness perception over time.

The effects of illness perception on death anxiety and satisfaction with life in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of illness perception on death anxiety and satisfaction with life in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with 125 patients with cancer who were admitted to the oncology clinic of a university hospital in the Central Anatolian Region of Turkey between March and December 2022 and who met the research criteria and accepted to participate in the study. The data were collected with "Patient descriptive information form," "Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ)," "Scale of Death Anxiety (SDA)," and "Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)." It was found that mean BIPQ score of the patients was 39.54±12.82, the mean SDA score was 8.02±3.16, and the mean SWLS score was 14.74±5.19. BIPQ total score was found to affect SDA total score positively (β=.751) and SWLS total score negatively (β=-.591). SDA total score was found to affect SWLS total score negatively (β=-.216) (p<.05). It was found that patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer had moderate level of illness perception and life satisfaction, and high death anxiety. It was found that as illness perception of the patients increased, their death anxiety increased and satisfaction with life decreased. In addition, it was found that as the death anxiety of patients increased, their satisfaction with life decreased.

Shared decision-making for renal replacement treatment and illness perception in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease

BackgroundCurrent healthcare trends emphasize the use of shared decision-making (SDM) for renal replacement treatment (RRT) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This is crucial to understand the relationship between SDM and illness perception of CKD patients. Few studies have focused on SDM and illness perception status of CKD patients and the impact of illness perception on RRT after SDM.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we used a questionnaire with purposive sampling from March 2019 to February 2020 at the nephrology outpatient department of a medical center in southern Taiwan. The nephrology medical team in this study used the SHARE five-step model of SDM to communicate with the patients about RRT and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) was applied to evaluate illness perception of these patients at the beginning of SDM. According to the SDM decision time, the study participants were classified general and delayed SDM groups. The distribution between SDM groups was estimated using independent two sample t-test, chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test. The correlation between illness perception and SDM decision time were illustrated and evaluated using Spearman’s correlation test. A p-value less than 0.05 is statistically significant.ResultsA total of 75 patients were enrolled in this study. The average time to make a dialysis decision after initiating SDM was 166.2 ± 178.1 days. 51 patients were classified as general group, and 24 patients were classified as delayed group. The median SDM decision time of delayed group were significantly longer than general group (56 vs. 361 days, P < 0.001). Our findings revealed that delayed group was significantly characterized with not created early surgical assess (delayed vs. general: 66.7% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.001) compared to general group. The average BIPQ score was 54.0 ± 8.1 in our study. We classified the patients into high and low illness perception group according to the median score of BIPQ. The total score of BIPQ in overall participants might increase by the SDM decision time (rho = 0.83, p = 0.830) and the linear regression line also showed consistent trends between BIPQ and SDM decision time in correspond cohorts. However, no statistically significant findings were found.ConclusionsThe patients with advanced chronic kidney disease took an average of five and a half months to make a RRT decision after undergoing SDM. Although there is no statistical significance, the trend of illness perception seems correlated with decision-making time. The stronger the illness perception, the longer the decision-making time. Furthermore, shorter decision times may be associated with earlier establishment of surgical access. We need more research exploring the relationship between illness perception and SDM for RRT in CKD patients.

Disease Perception Is Correlated with Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients Suffering from Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Results of the Belgian Be-QUALMS Study

Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes suffer from an impaired quality of life that is only partially explained by physical symptoms. In an observational study, we aimed to investigate the impact of current MDS treatments and the influence of disease perception on quality of life. Serial measurement of health-related quality of life was performed by ‘the QUALMS’, a validated MDS-specific patient reported outcome tool. Disease perception was evaluated by means of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ). We prospectively collected data on 75 patients that started on a new treatment and could not demonstrate a significant change in QUALMS score or B-IPQ score during treatment. Six out of eight items evaluated in the B-IPQ correlated significantly with QUALMS score. In this small sample, no significant difference in QUALMS score was found between lower vs. higher risk MDS patients or other studied variables, e.g., targeted hemoglobin showed no correlation with QUALMS score. In daily practice attention must be paid to initial formation of disease perception as it correlates independently with health-related quality of life and does not change during treatment (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04053933).

The influence of gender differences on the illness perception and women's point of view on COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible disease and has influence on patients' quality of life. The aim is to investigate the influence of gender on the illness perception in COPD patients. This prospective study enrolled 151 COPD patients. For the evaluation of illness perception, we used Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). Average FEV1 values were significantly different (p = 0.007) in favor of woman compared to men. There was a higher proportion of GOLD stage 3 and less stage 4 in women. We found a significant difference in total BIPQ scores between female and male patients (p = 0.008). Women gave a significantly higher score on question 6 and 8 (p = 0.003). We found a significant difference in total BIPQ scores between female and male patients. Women perceive COPD as a significantly more threatening disease and accept chronic course and long-term treatment. COPD is no longer a disease that predominantly affects men. BIPQ is a convenient tool for fast assessment of illness perception for COPD. Patients' perceptions of COPD is in correlation with gender and GOLD stadium. The results of this study have potential benefits in terms of health promotion and improvement of the quality of life and outcome (Fig. 4, Ref. 21).

Beliefs, behaviour, and blood pressure: preliminary analysis from a pharmacy-based hypertension visualisation intervention to support medication adherence

Abstract Introduction Hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, with an estimated prevalence of 31% worldwide1. Antihypertensive medication reduces both blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular risk; however, approximately 50% of patients become nonadherent to antihypertensives within a year of treatment initiation2. Nonadherence can be considered as either intentional or unintentional. Research suggests that rather than being a solely passive process, illness beliefs and treatment perceptions may influence nonintentional nonadherence3, highlighting the importance of considering patients’ beliefs when supporting adherence. The use of visuals is one method to aid understanding of complex health information and influence treatment beliefs. Aim To investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a community pharmacy-based visualisation intervention (ViSTA-BP) and explore the preliminary effect on patients’ perceptions of hypertension, medication adherence and blood pressure. Methods ViSTA-BP is a digital intervention that allows users, through real-time animations, to visualise both the condition that is hypertension and how blood pressure affects the circulatory system. The purpose of ViSTA-BP was to improve patients’ understanding of hypertension, increase perceived necessity of treatment and ultimately support medication adherence. A mixed-methods pre-post design pilot study was conducted. NHS Research Ethics Committee Wales Rec 5 (reference 20/WA/0280) and Cardiff Metropolitan University (reference PGR-3806) granted ethical approval. The intervention was consultation-based and researcher-facilitated. Outcomes were recorded at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at three-months. Validated questionnaires were used to measure illness and treatment beliefs (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ)/Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ)), adherence captured using self-report measures (Medicines Adherence Rating Scale (MARS-5)/recent adherence questionnaire) and medication dispensing/collection data. BP was measured at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Semi-structured interviews with patients and pharmacists explored intervention acceptability. Results Pharmacists recruited 69 patients with hypertension across five community pharmacies (CP) in South Wales; 54 attended the three-month follow-up. The ease of participant recruitment and high retention rates demonstrated the feasibility of delivering ViSTA-BP in this setting. ViSTA-BP content and the CP location were acceptable to patients and pharmacists. Time to deliver the intervention was a concern for pharmacists but not patients. There was no statistically significant change in adherence outcomes at three-month follow-up; however, the median scores for both self-report questionnaires were maximal at baseline. Changes were seen in illness belief scores, with a significant improvement in total B-IPQ score over time (p=0.04). Significant changes in B-IPQ treatment control (p=0.01), illness coherence (p&amp;lt;0.001) and BMQ Necessity subscale scores (p=0.003) were reported at all time-points. There was a statistically significant improvement in both systolic (SBP) (p&amp;lt;0.01) and diastolic BP (DBP) (p=0.03) three-months post-intervention. At baseline, 31% of participants had SBP at or below the UK target; however, at three-month follow-up, 59% were at or below the UK target. Discussion/Conclusion ViSTA-BP was considered a feasible researcher-facilitated intervention in this CP setting. Improvements seen in blood pressure control, patients’ understanding of hypertension, and perceptions of utility and necessity of treatment highlight the potential for the ViSTA-BP intervention to help reduce cardiovascular risk in the future. While preliminary analysis shows promise, further adequately powered research studies are necessary to evaluate future ViSTA-BP impact.

A Questionnaire Survey on the Prevalence and Parents' Perceptions of Respiratory Allergies in a 3- to 16-Year-Old Population in Wuhan, China.

(1) Background: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma has increased rapidly in China. However, perceptions of respiratory allergies and barriers to their management have not attracted enough attention. (2) Objective: To investigate the prevalence of, parents’ perceptions of and their unmet needs for information concerning respiratory allergies in a 3- to 16-year-old children population. (3) Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to July 2021 in three schools in Wuhan, China. A total of 1963 participants were recruited through cluster sampling for their parents to complete an online questionnaire regarding respiratory allergic symptoms. The diagnosis of respiratory allergies was based on self-reported symptoms and face-to-face physician evaluation. All the participants with respiratory allergies were asked to complete the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ), the Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire (AKQ) and a questionnaire regarding their unmet needs for disease management. (4) Results: The prevalence of respiratory allergies was 29.3% (576/1963) in the 3- to 16-year-old population, among whom AR accounted for 25.7%; asthma, 1.8% and AR-complicated asthma (AR&Asthma), 1.9%. The total B-IPQ score was 40.2 ± 10.9 in the participants with respiratory allergies, and there were no differences among the AR, asthma and AR&Asthma groups (all p > 0.05). The B-IPQ score correlated significantly with symptom onset time and a history of atopic dermatitis (p < 0.01). Nearly one fifth, 18.9%, of the participants with respiratory allergies never went to hospital for treatment, but those with higher B-IPQ scores were more likely to seek professional treatment (p < 0.001). The accuracy rates of AKQ were 72.5% in the participants with asthma and 76.7% in those without asthma (p = 0.147). Among the 576 participants with respiratory allergies, 568 (98.6%) had tried to obtain disease-management information from online platforms, and 55.5% (315/568) were dissatisfied with current platforms; the reasons included incomprehensive contents of illness (45.7%), lack of voice from leading experts (40.3%), too many advertisements (37.5%) and similar contents on different platforms (36.8%). (5) Conclusions: The prevalence of respiratory allergies is high in the 3- to 16-years old population in Wuhan, China. Yet the parents’ perceptions of respiratory allergies and knowledge of asthma are insufficient. It is crucial to increase parents’ awareness of the illness and facilitate their access to truly informative and professional platforms.

Warfarin Adherence Among Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in Rural Area of Dongyang, China: A Questionnaire-Based Study

IntroductionAdherence to warfarin is associated with improved outcome in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but the adherence status of patients in rural areas of China is not known.MethodsA questionnaire-based study evaluating warfarin adherence of rural residents with AF was carried out in Dongyang, China. Potentially eligible patients were screened and contacted by telephone, and their demographic characteristics were collected. Illness perception was assessed using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), and warfarin adherence was assessed using a Chinese-version adherence scale. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with unsatisfactory adherence.ResultsA total of 201 patients (male, n=99; mean age, 70.3±8.12 years) were included, among whom 95 (47.3%) patients showed good adherence and 63 (31.3%) poor adherence. Number of co-dispensed drugs (multivariate analysis: odds ratio [OR]=3.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35–9.81, p=0.011) and BIPQ score (OR=1.25, 95% CI 1.17–1.33, p<0.001) were identified as factors associated with good adherence.ConclusionMedical adherence to warfarin needs to improve in rural patients with AF. Efforts that can reduce the number of co-dispensed drugs and increase illness perception may improve warfarin adherence. This study may benefit future management of warfarin administration to rural patients with AF.

Illness perception and concordance between prostate cancer survivors and caregivers and adherence to self-management behaviors.

e24002 Background: Illness beliefs are important determinants of self-management behaviors (SMBs). Spousal or informal caregiver involvement improves clinical outcomes in non-cancer survivors with chronic diseases. However, very little is known about the influence that caregivers have on comorbid disease SMBs in cancer survivors. In this study, we aim to understand and identify concordance in illness beliefs and perceptions between caregivers and prostate cancer survivors and to determine their impact on hypertension (HTN) SMBs. Methods: Survivors and their caregivers completed surveys assessing their beliefs and perceptions and SMBs regarding survivors’ HTN. Both survivors and caregivers answered the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) to assess beliefs and perceptions of survivors’ HTN. The BIPQ score is a sum of eight questions with a higher sum score indicating a more threatening view of the illness. Survivors reported adherence to SMBs using the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS) and Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level Effects (HSCALE). MARS scores &gt;4.5 were considered adherent. The HSCALE isdivided into five sub-scores – diet, physical activity, smoking behavior, weight management and alcohol intake and each was score was dichotomized. Cohen’s Kappa statistic assessed concordance between survivor and caregiver dyad responses to the BIPQ. Logistic regression assessed associations between survivor and caregiver BIPQ scores and odds of SMB adherence. Results: This analysis included 55 dyads. Mean age of survivors was 70.4 years ± 9.6; 12 (22%) were Black, 36 (65%) were White, 2 (4%) were Asian and 3 (5%) were other race. Mean age of caregivers was 64.4 years ± 10.5, 9 (16%) self-identified as Black, 35 (64%) White, 2 (4%) Asian and 3 (5%) other race. Survivors and caregivers had fair agreements about how much HTN affected survivors’ lives (k = 0.147, p = 0.008), how concerned survivors are about their HTN k = 0.130, p = 0.014), and HTN’s emotional impact on survivors (k = 0.185, p = 0.002). However, survivor-caregiver concordance about HTN had no significant impact on survivors’ SMBs. In contrast, caregivers’ beliefs about HTN was associated with survivors’ SMB such that a 1-point increase in caregiver’s BIPQ score was associated with 8% increase in the odds of survivors’ self-reported weight adherence (p = 0.0314). Survivors’ HTN beliefs were not associated with adherence to SMBs. Conclusions: Caregivers have a significant influence on prostate cancer survivors’ adherence to weight-related SMB, demonstrating that it is important to also educate caregivers who support cancer survivors with chronic comorbidities. Future analysis will include a larger cohort to better understand the interrelationship between caregivers’ illness beliefs and survivors’ SMBs and may help clinicians better direct interventions to improve survivorship outcomes.

Illness perception of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) during inpatient rehabilitation: a longitudinal study.

Multicentre longitudinal study. To assess overall illness perception and specific illness representations at admission and discharge of inpatient spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation, and to detect associations between demographic and injury-related variables, and illness perception. Seven Dutch SCI-specialised rehabilitation centres. Participants aged >18 years with a recent SCI were screened for cognitive and emotional illness representations at admission and discharge with the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ). Differences between B-IPQ item scores at admission and discharge were analysed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Differences between B-IPQ total scores were analysed with the paired-samples t-test. Associations between B-IPQ total scores and other variables were tested with bivariable and multivariable regression analyses. B-IPQ results were available for 270 participants at admission (71% male, 59% paraplegia, 83% incomplete) and 119 at discharge (68% male, 50% paraplegia, 78% incomplete). The extent to which people experienced their SCI as a threat was highest for: 'consequences', 'symptom burden' and 'concern' both at admission and discharge. Participants generally experienced less threat at discharge. A more threatening illness perception was significantly associated with older age, complete SCI and a history of cognitive problems at admission. Age and completeness of injury, together, explained 12% of the variance of overall illness perception at admission. For most individuals, illness perception positively changed during SCI rehabilitation. Measuring illness perception in inpatient rehabilitation could support the identification of specific treatment goals in order to improve adjustment after SCI.

Illness perception about hepatitis C virus infection: a cross-sectional study from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a debilitating chronic health problem and can be fatal if left untreated. Illness perceptions are self-manifested beliefs that influence the ability of individuals to cope with their disease and perceive it as manageable or threatening condition. Limited evidence is available from low resource settings regarding patient perception about HCV. In this study, we aimed to assess the perception of individuals with HCV, the impact of their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on their HCV perception, and its link to patient-oriented treatment outcomes.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was undertaken enrolling individuals with HCV who attended Hepatitis C clinics at two hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Illness perception was measured using Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). Descriptive statistics, Kruskal Wallis tests and Mann Whitney U tests were performed to study patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and to analyze the questionnaire results. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess determinants associated with perception scores.ResultsParticipants represented poor HCV perception and their overall mean BIPQ score was 43.35, SD = 13.15. Participants had a low degree of understanding about their illness (mean coherence score = 2.92, SD = 1.85). Individuals with more than four years, compared to less than one year, of estimated HCV infection were more likely to view that their illness would continue (mean timeline score = 6.27, SD = 2.50 versus 5.36, SD = 2.53; respectively, p < 0.01). Similarly, individuals with hepatic cirrhosis, compared to without, were more likely to attribute symptoms to their disease (mean identity score = 5.48, SD = 2.14 versus 4.89, SD = 2.38; respectively, p = 0.04). Female participants reported higher degrees at which the illness affected them emotionally (i.e., emotional representation) and lower coherence about HCV than males (p = 0.04 and 0.006, respectively). Individuals who did not achieve sustained virological response 24 weeks after treatment with interferon-based therapy, compared to treatment naïve individuals, reported lower trust in being successfully treated with newer anti-HCV agents (i.e., direct acting antivirals) (p = 0.029). However, multivariable linear regression revealed that no sociodemographic or clinical determinants were associated with a higher BIPQ score (i.e., more threatening, or negative perceptions).ConclusionIndividuals with HCV in Pakistan generally report threatening or negative views about HCV infection. Lack of trust in treatment efficacy was also apparent, especially in those who experienced failed anti-HCV treatments in the past. Healthcare professionals should consider these perceptions when treating individuals with HCV to optimize their compliance by aligning their perception with the high effectiveness of current anti-HCV therapies.

Illness perception, medication adherence and glycemic control among primary health-care patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Port Said City, Egypt.

Despite the availability of a wide selection of antidiabetic treatments, many patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) still do not have controlled glucose levels. This study aimed to assess illness perception, medication adherence, and glycemic control among primary care attendees with T2DM. A cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2019 and November 2020. A random sample of 265 Egyptian T2DM patients were enrolled from primary health-care settings in Port Said, Egypt. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and diabetic medical history were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) was used to assess diabetes perception, whereas the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) was used to investigate medication adherence. There was a significant difference in B-IPQ scores between different groups of the patients in terms of diabetic medications, complications, and glycemic control (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in MMAS-8 score found between different groups of the patients in terms of disease duration, family history of T2DM, and glycemic control (p < 0.05). Further, there was a significant difference in HbA1c score found between different groups of patients in terms of disease duration, medications, complications, and family history of T2DM (p < 0.05). Higher BMI, a positive family history of T2DM, patients who take insulin, high illness perception, and poor medication adherence were the factors associated with higher HbA1c level. Higher HbA1c levels were linked to a higher BMI, a positive family history of T2DM, insulin users, high illness perception, and poor medication adherence.

Influence of Diagnostic Informing on Negative Emotions, Illness Perception, Self-Perceived Burden, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Patients with Gastrointestinal Tumors.

Objective To investigate the influence of diagnostic informing on negative emotions, illness perception (IP), self-perceived burden (SPB), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with gastrointestinal tumors. Methods A total of 261 patients with gastrointestinal tumors admitted to our hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 were selected. According to whether the patients were informed of the disease diagnosis, they were divided into the informing group (n = 125) and the concealment group (n = 136). The self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), the self-rating depression scale (SDS), the brief illness perception questionnaire (BIPQ), the self-perceived burden scale (SPBS), and the PTSD checklist-civilian version (PCL-C) were used to investigate the two groups. Results The SAS and SDS scores of the informing group were lower than those of the concealment group (t = 7.853 and 6.444, P < 0.05). The total BIPQ score of the informing group was higher than that of the concealment group (t = −4.089, P < 0.05). The total SPBS score of the informing group was lower than that in the concealment group (t = 2.443, P < 0.05). The total PCL-C score of the informing group was lower than that of the concealment group (t = 2.173, P < 0.05). Conclusion Diagnosis informing can reduce the negative emotions, increase positive IP, and reduce the risk of SPB and PTSD in patients with gastrointestinal tumors.

There's no sugar-coating psychological distress and illness perceptions in gestational diabetes mellitus: depression and anxiety are associated with negative illness perceptions.

To gain an understanding of how women with gestational diabetes perceive their illness, and whether depressive/anxiety symptoms and/or psychological distress influence these illness perceptions. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 159 pregnant women aged 18-44 attending gestational diabetes clinics. Participants completed a questionnaire, which included the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS), Kessler 10-item Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), and psychiatric/general health items. Multiple regression was used to explore the relationship between EDS (total and anxiety subscale) scores and BIPQ scores, as well as between K-10 (total and anxiety subscale) scores and BIPQ scores. Regression analysis revealed a positive association between EDS total/anxiety subscale scores and BIPQ total score, as well as between K-10 total/anxiety subscale scores and BIPQ total score, controlling for potentially confounding variables. There was a strong positive correlation between EDS total score and K-10 total score. The most frequently expressed concern about GDM was an adverse effect on their baby's health. A poor diet was the most frequently reported perceived 'cause' of GDM. Greater severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms, and psychological distress, is associated with more negative illness perceptions of GDM in pregnant women.

Exploring the Relationship between Disease Awareness and Outcomes in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: Disease awareness is a challenge in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to explore the association between COPD optimal and suboptimal awareness, clinical parameters, and the following patient-reported outcomes: modified Medical Research Council (mMRC), Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQM-9), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), Morisky Medication-Taking Adherence Scale (MMAS-4), and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ). Methods: This post hoc analysis of the SAT study included all enrolled patients for whom awareness (Disease Awareness in COPD Questionnaire – DACQ) was assessed at baseline and 12 months. DACQ scores ≥80 were considered an indicator of an optimal awareness. Results: 367 patients (25.8% women, median age 72 years) were included in the analysis. At enrollment, 74 patients (20.2%) had a DACQ score ≥80. Patients with suboptimal awareness, compared to those in which awareness was optimal, had higher median scores for CAT (p = 0.0001) and mMRC (p = 0.0031), a lower median TSQM-9 global score (p < 0.0001), and higher median B-IPQ score (p < 0.0001). The proportion of patients who had exacerbations during the previous year was higher in patients with suboptimal COPD awareness than in those with DACQ score ≥80 (42.8 vs. 21.4%, p = 0.0009). During the 12-month observation period, illness perception, adherence, and treatment satisfaction were found to be independent factors significantly associated with level of disease awareness. Conclusion: The results of our post hoc analysis suggest that patients’ awareness of their COPD disease is related to both clinical outcomes and how they perceive and manage their condition.

Perception of Illness and Its Association with Treatment Willingness in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease of immense public health relevance. Understanding illness perceptions in the NAFLD population will provide sound scientific evidence for planning high-quality patient-centered care and implementing effective interventions. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) is a robust psychometric tool to systematically assess the dimensions of illness perceptions in various chronic ailments. In a cross-sectional study enrolling patients with newly diagnosed NAFLD, the sociodemographic, anthropometric, biochemical, and radiological determinants of enhanced illness perceptions (measured by the BIPQ score) were investigated using univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses. Finally, the association between individual domains of the BIPQ and willingness to participate in comprehensive medical management was explored. In total, 264 patients (mean age 53 ± 11.9years, 59.8% males) were enrolled in the final analysis. The mean and median BIPQ scores in the study population were 30.3 ± 12.8 and 31.0 (IQR, 22.0-40.0), respectively. The variables having a significant independent association with heightened perceptions (BIPQ > 31) were family history of liver disease (aOR, 5.93; 95% CI, 1.42-24.74), obesity (aOR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.57-7.05), diabetes mellitus (aOR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.01-5.49), and transaminitis (aOR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.42-5.69). Patients with a higher level of illness perceptions (31.6 ± 12.9 vs 27.8 ± 12.3, p = 0.022) were more likely to express a willingness to participate in the comprehensive management plan, with 3 of the 8 domains (consequence, identity, and treatment control) mainly affecting willingness. A family history of liver disease, obesity, diabetes, and transaminitis were independently associated with increased illness perceptions. A belief in serious consequences, a strong illness identity, and higher perceived treatment control were significantly associated with the willingness to undergo comprehensive care for NAFLD.

Abstract 321: Illness Perceptions and Readiness for Discharge Are Associated with Psychological Symptoms in Cardiac Arrest Survivors with Good Neurologic Recovery

Introduction: Understanding the development of psychological symptoms post-arrest is a major research gap. In qualitative studies, cardiac arrest survivors report being poorly equipped to face the numerous sequelae upon returning home, which could in turn exacerbate acute psychological symptoms from the initial cardiac arrest event. In this study, we examined associations between illness perceptions (i.e. cognitive and emotional appraisals of illness and recovery), readiness for discharge, and provider-patient communication with psychological symptoms in cardiac arrest survivors with good neurologic recovery. Methods: We distributed an online survey to cardiac arrest survivors who were members of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. Survivors completed the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ), Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS), Questionnaire for the Quality of Provider-Patient Interactions (QQPPI), PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5), and Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) which has anxiety and depression subscales. Three multiple regression models examined associations between B-IPQ, RHDS, and QQPPI scores with PCL-5 and PHQ-4 anxiety and depression sores, adjusted for age, sex, time since arrest, self-reported understanding of cardiac arrest and post-arrest symptoms at discharge, self-reported memory at discharge, functional status via the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale, pre-arrest Charlson Comorbidity Index, and income. Results: We obtained full data from 163 survivors (mean age: 50.1 years, 50.3% women, 95.5% white, mean time since arrest: 63.9 months). More threatening illness perceptions (β: .57, p &lt; .01) and lower readiness for discharge (β: -.22, p = .01) were associated with greater posttraumatic stress symptoms. More threatening illness perceptions was associated with greater anxiety (β: .53, p &lt; .01) and depression (β: .5, p &lt; .01) symptoms. Conclusions: Illness perceptions and readiness for discharge were associated with psychological symptoms in cardiac arrest survivors. Future studies should examine the feasibility of in-hospital assessment of survivors’ illness perceptions, readiness for discharge, and psychological symptoms.