Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire Research Articles

Illness perception and intimate relationships in patients with cervical cancer: the mediating role of dyadic coping.

A good intimate relationship (IR) can relieve the psychological distress of patients with cervical cancer and promote a sense of well-being during stressful times. Researchers have found that IR is related to illness perception (IP) and dyadic coping (DC). Therefore, this study aimed to (1) describe the IR of patients with cervical cancer, (2) identify the relationships and pathways among IP, DC and IR in patients with cervical cancer and (3) explore the mediating role of DC between IP and IR in cervical cancer patients. A total of 175 patients with cervical cancer were recruited at a tertiary hospital in China from September 2021 to January 2023. The data were collected through a general demographic and disease-related information questionnaire, the Locke-Wallace Marriage Adjustment Test, the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire of Cervical Cancer and the Dyadic Coping Inventory. The mean score for intimate relationships was 107.78 (SD = 23.99, range 30-154). Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that intimate relationships were positively correlated with IP (personal control) and DC (stress communication, supportive DC, delegated DC and common DC) and were negatively correlated with IP (consequence, timeline acute/chronic, timeline cyclical and emotional representation) and negative DC. As for the results of the structural equation model, DC fully mediated the influencing effects of both positive and negative IP on IR. The level of IR of patients with cervical cancer in China should be improved. DC has a significant mediating effect on the link between the IP and IR.

Staging of psychiatric disorders in patients with limited and advanced/metastatic solid cancer: A pilot study.

e22545 Background: 38% of cancer patients (pts) receive diagnosis of major depressive disorder. According with the clinimetric approach of the staging of psychiatric disease, the 5-step model of unipolar depression allows for the evaluation of the extent of the disorder, its severity, and characteristics at a specific time in the course of the disease. This study was aimed: a) to assess mental health and quality of life of cancer patients with limited (LS) and advanced/metastatic (AS) solid cancer through the join evaluation of the staging of psychiatric disorders; b) to explore the potential role of severity of oncological disease in anxious/depressive disease development. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Oncology Unit of Luigi Sacco Hospital of Milan during the first session of a psychological support path. Patients’ cancer diagnosis and stage, as well as regular engagement in work, leisure and social activities were explored. Hospital and Depression Anxiety Scale (HADS), the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) and Mental Health Continuum Short-Form (MHC-SF) were also administered. Results: 104 pts were included: F 86, M 18, median age 57,5 (27-84), 30% AS, and 70% LS. Pts’ anxious/depressive symptoms were assessed by HADS scoring and they were divided into 3 groups according to the model of unipolar depression: Group 1a (prodromal phase – no symptoms), Group 1b (prodromal phase – mood symptoms) and Group 2 (anxious/depressive disorder). Pts in group 2 were significantly more frequently AS pts, while in group 1a pts in LS stage (χ² = 7.78, p < .05). Based on MHC-SF scores, flourishing and languishing were significantly more frequently reported by pts in group 1a (55,5% and 46% of pts, respectively), and moderate mental health in group 2 (45,9% of pts, χ² = 18.1, p < .001). Regression analysis highlighted non-hobbyist vs. hobbyists, AS vs. LS cancer pts, asthenic vs. non asthenic pts, and moderate vs flourishing metal health were more likely to receive a provisional anxious depressive disorder diagnosis (Stage 2). No association emerged for other physical symptoms, work, and socialization. Conclusions: AS pts with asthenia, no engagement in structured activities and moderate mental health had a higher risk of developing anxious/depressive disorders. Screening psychiatric disorders in cancer pts may improve the physician's ability to recognize earlier phase of psychopathological disease and guide pts to tailored treatment. These may prevent progression of psychiatric disease and promote mental health and positive quality of life.

Представления о болезни и приверженность лечению у пациентов с острыми лейкозами и лимфомами

<p>This study aims to investigate the relationship between of perceptions of illness and its causes, body and health, and illness behavior in relation to treatment adherence in patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma. We present one empirical study involving lymphoma patients (N=58) aged 19 to 64 years (M=41.22; SD=11.17), of whom 70.7% were female, and acute leukemia patients (N=51) aged 18 to 64 years (M=35.12; SD=12.90), of whom 54.9% were female. Participants completed the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R), the Cognitions about body and health questionnaire (CABAH), the Scale for the Assessment of Illness Behavior (SAIB) and 4-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. The results suggest that patients with lymphoma are at risk for decreased treatment adherence compared to patients with acute leukemia. In acute leukemia, the targets of psychological work aimed at preventing reduced adherence to treatment are patients' perceptions of the psychological causes of the disease and their belief that healthy habits are not important for maintaining health, while in patients with lymphomas — uncertainty that immune problems could provoke the disease.</p>

Illness perceptions in relation to self-management behaviour among elderly patients with COPD: A cross-sectional study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of self-management behaviour and illness perceptions and to examine illness perceptions in relation to self-management behaviour in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A cross-sectional study was conducted, and 152 elderly COPD patients were recruited via the convenience sampling method. The COPD Self-Management Scale and the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for COPD patients were used to examine self-management behaviour and illness perceptions. Pearson correlation analysis, univariate analysis and hierarchical linear regression analysis were used to explore illness perceptions in relation to self-management behaviour. The mean overall score for self-management behaviour was 2.90 ± 0.39. Among the subscales of self-management behaviour, information management had the lowest score of 2.20 ± 0.76. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, including educational level, smoking status, type of primary caregiver, home oxygen therapy and COPD duration, were found to be significant determinants of self-management behaviour. After controlling for these variables, several illness perception subscales, including treatment control, personal control, coherence, timeline cyclical and identity, were significantly correlated with self-management behaviour. This study confirmed that elderly COPD patients' self-management behaviour was unsatisfactory and that illness perceptions were significant determinants of self-management behaviour. The findings may contribute to the development of self-management interventions for elderly COPD patients.

Characterization of CKD illness representation profiles using patient-level factors.

Illness perceptions are the unique perspective individuals have on their illness, based on their context and experiences, and are associated with patient outcomes including coping and adherence. The purpose of this study was to explore characteristics that may be driving membership in illness perceptions cluster groups for adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study was conducted within the multicenter longitudinal Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. Cross-sectional data were collected and combined with CRIC data. Illness perceptions were measured using the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire. Clustering analysis was conducted in R, and bivariate analysis including linear regression was performed in STATA 16. The sample (n = 197) had a mean age of 68, was 52% women, 53% non-White, and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 56 ml/min/1.73 m2. Three cluster groups were identified, labeled as "Disengaged" (n = 20), "Well-Resourced" (n = 108), and "Distressed" (n = 69). The "Disengaged" group was characterized by low CKD knowledge, many recent hospitalization days, and the lowest perceived CKD burden. The "Well-Resourced" group was characterized by the highest levels of education, CKD knowledge, optimism, and medication adherence. The "Distressed" group was characterized by the highest levels of depression scores, comorbidity burden, CKD burden, CKD symptoms, and lowest optimism. Group membership significantly predicted the number of hospitalization days in adjusted analyses. Illness perceptions groups are associated with number of hospitalization days but are independent of many patient characteristics. Illness perceptions data could be used to tailor care for specific patients at risk for poor health outcomes.

Internal consistency reliability of the Revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire: A systematic review and reliability generalization meta-analysis.

The Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) assesses patients' perspectives of their illnesses. Original psychometric testing occurred in limited populations. The purpose of this reliability generalization meta-analysis was to: (1) estimate internal consistency reliability of each IPQ-R subscale, and (2) test moderators of these estimates. Web of Science was searched in July 2022 for articles citing the original IPQ-R paper that reported IPQ-R reliability data. Cronbach's alphas (⍺) were pooled for each IPQ-R subscale using inverse variance weighting and DerSimonian and Laird estimation. Sixty-six studies met criteria. Overall pooled ⍺ estimates were acceptable: 0.71-0.87. Treatment control reliability was reduced among cardiac (⍺ = 0.68), diabetes/kidney disease (⍺ = 0.63), and mixed/other (⍺ = 0.66) samples; cyclical reliability was reduced in cancer (⍺ = 0.65) samples. Age, gender, and race were also significant moderators. Subscale reliability varied based on sample characteristics. Adapting IPQ-R subscales to account for sample variation could improve measurement of illness perception constructs.

What do cancer survivors believe caused their cancer? A secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data.

Given that risk reduction and healthy lifestyles can prevent 4 in 10 cancers, it is important to understand what survivors believe caused their cancer to inform educational initiatives. In this secondary analysis, we analyzed cancer survivor responses on the Causes Subscale of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire, which lists 18 possible causes of illness and a free text question. We used descriptive statistics to determine cancer survivors' agreement with the listed causes and conducted separate partial proportional odds models for the top three causes to examine their associations with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Content analysis was used to examine free text responses. Of the 1,001 participants, most identified as Caucasian (n = 764, 77%), female (n = 845, 85%), and were diagnosed with breast cancer (n = 656, 66%). The most commonly believed causes of cancer were: stress or worry (n = 498, 51%), pollution in the environment (n = 471, 48%), and chance or bad luck (n = 412, 42%). The associations of sociodemographic and clinical variables varied across the models. Free text responses indicated that hereditary and genetic causes (n = 223, 22.3%) followed by trauma and stress (n = 218, 21.8%) and bad luck or chance (n = 79, 7.9%) were the most important causes of cancer. Study results illuminate cancer survivors' beliefs about varying causes of their cancer diagnosis and identify characteristics of survivors who are more likely to believe certain factors caused their cancer. Results can be used to plan cancer education and risk-reduction campaigns and highlight for whom such initiatives would be most suitable.

More positive patient-reported outcomes in patients newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation - a comparative longitudinal study.

To compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients newly (< six months) diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) with those who have had the diagnosis longer (≥ six months) and to investigate whether or not these outcomes change over a six month's period. In this longitudinal survey study, 129 patients with AF completed the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire, the Arrhythmia-Specific questionnaire in Tachycardia and Arrhythmia, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at baseline and after six months.At baseline, patients newly diagnosed with AF (n=53), compared to patients with a previous diagnosis (n=76), reported AF as more temporary (P = 0.003) and had higher belief in personal- and treatment control (P = 0.004, P = 0.041 respectively). At six months follow-up, patients newly diagnosed reported a lower symptom burden (P = 0.004), better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (P = 0.015) and higher personal control (P < 0.001) than patients previously diagnosed. Over time, in patients newly diagnosed, symptom burden and anxiety symptom score decreased (P = 0.001, P = 0.014 respectively) and HRQoL improved (P = 0.002). Patients newly diagnosed with AF reported more positive PROs both at baseline and at six months follow-up than patients with a previous diagnosis of AF. Therefore, it is important to quickly capture patients newly diagnosed to support their belief in their own abilities. Such support may, alongside medical treatments, help the patients manage the disease, which may lead to reduced symptom burden and better HRQoL over time.

A Community-Guided Approach to Bronchiolitis: A Needs Assessment and Illness Perception Study.

The factors influencing caregivers' understanding of pediatric respiratory diseases, such as bronchiolitis, can guide patient care and the acceptability of treatment methods within the healthcare system. This study aims to identify illness perceptions and perform a needs assessment among caregivers of children diagnosed with respiratory diseases. This is a prospective, cross-sectional, questionnaire-driven study of a representative sample of caregivers whose children had an acute respiratory illness. The telephone-administered questionnaire was comprised of (1) demographic items; (2) illness perception questionnaire-revised (IPQ-R); and (3) items about personal barriers, the latter 2 of which employed a 5-point Likert response. Cronbach's alpha (α) was used to measure the internal consistency reliability for each item within the IPQ-R. The Pearson 2-tailed correlation coefficient was used to correlate questionnaire items. We included 75 caregivers whose children have been diagnosed with bronchiolitis (51%), reactive airway disease (RAD) (35%), asthma (33%), and wheezing (44%). We found no significance between the child's diagnosis and the site of recruitment. The most important components of the illness perception were illness coherence (α=0.849), psychological attributions (α=0.903), and barriers to diagnosis (α=0.633). Understanding caregivers' perceptions of respiratory diseases will lead to better treatment acceptance. We must clarify the terms used to define bronchiolitis from viral-induced wheezing, RAD, and the first asthma episode in older infants. Identifying caregivers' gaps in knowledge will help establish a cohesive approach to personalized treatment of respiratory diseases in children and their diagnosis.

A cognitive behavioural group treatment for somatic symptom disorder: a pilot study

BackgroundSomatic symptom disorder (SSD) presents challenges to the healthcare system, including frequent medical visits, lack of symptom relief experienced by individuals with this condition, high associated medical costs, and patient dissatisfaction. This study examined the utility of a novel, low-barrier, brief cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) group intervention for individuals with SSD.MethodsParticipants were referred by their mental health providers or self-referral. Each participant underwent a telephone screen and in-person psychological and neuropsychological screen. Two cycles of the CBT-based group (n = 30), each consisting of six weekly two-hour sessions, were facilitated at a large outpatient mental healthcare facility in Ontario, Canada. The final sample consisted of 13 individuals of whom 11 completed the treatment. Clinical outcome measures were administered pre-, mid- and post-group, including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder–7, Perceived Stress Scale–4, Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Pain Disability Index, Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire, and sections of the Patient Health Questionnaire. Six healthcare utilization metrics were collected from electronic medical records at six months pre- and post-group. Paired samples t-tests were used to examine pre- to post-group differences in participants’ somatic symptoms, psychological functioning, health, and degree of healthcare utilization.ResultsWhen comparing pre- and post- group, we observed reductions in the mean scores for somatic symptom severity, depressive symptomatology, anxiety, perceived stress, and perceived disability related to pain. The change in depressive symptomatology yielded a small effect size (d = 0.30). Further, we observed downward trends across participants’ pre- to post-group healthcare utilization, with small effect sizes observed for hospital admission (d = 0.36), days admitted to hospital (d = 0.47), and inpatient consults (d = 0.42). Differences between pre- and post-group measures of somatic symptom severity, psychological functioning, health, or healthcare utilization did not reach significance.ConclusionsCurrent findings provide support for the potential effectiveness of an abbreviated CBT group for individuals with SSD in reducing psychiatric symptomatology. Further research is recommended, including randomized control trials, cost-benefit analyses, and comparisons between abbreviated versus longer-duration treatment programs for SSD.Trial registrationNot applicable.

The perceptions of disease and its symptoms compared by gender among patients with AF and their quality of life

Abstract Background Patients' atrial fibrillation (AF) symptoms can vary by gender, and their quality of life (QOL) is affected by their disease perceptions should be considered. Purpose This study assessed patients with AF about their perceptions of the disease and its symptoms. Participants' symptom conditions, AF and symptom perception, and QOL were compared based on their genders. In addition, we accessed the prediction factors of QOL. Methods We included cases of having been diagnosed with AF from the cardiology department of a medical centre. Research tools mainly included AF symptoms and conditions, perceptions of AF and its symptoms (modified from AF Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised, AF IPQ-R), and QOL (Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-life, AFEQT). A two-tailed test was adopted, with 0.05 being statistically significant. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to analyze predictive factors for QOL. Results The 110 cases included 71 men (64.5%) and 39 women (35.5%). They averaged 64.0±0.8 (33-87) years old. Regarding the negative perception of AF and its symptoms, in 3 items, women scored higher than men did (p&amp;lt;0.05): "AF is very unpredictable" (3.85±0.78，3.47±1.06; t=2.11), "When I think about my AF I get upset" (2.95±1.15，2.74±0.91，t=2.24) and "My AF makes me feel frustrated" (2.74±1.07，2.23±0.76，t=2.65). Regarding QOL, men scored poor QOL than women did in 2 items (p=0.03): "difficulty in walking briskly" (2.69±1.68, 3.47±1.91, t=2.21) and "difficulty in walking briskly uphill or carrying groceries or other items, up a flight of stairs without stopping" (3.35±1.84，4.18±2.01，t=2.18). QOL had five significant predictive factors; their total variance explained was 63% (Table 1). The item with the most vital explanatory factor was "total score of consequences due to AF", followed by "total score of emotional representations due to AF", "total number of symptoms", "taking Amiodarone", and "total score of treatment control of AF". Conclusions When patients were compared based on gender, women were more than men in the negative perceptions of AF as unpredictable, which frustrated them. Men were poor QOL related to more physical constraints. Regarding predictive factors for QOL, patients who strongly felt the consequences caused by AF, had negative emotional representations, had a negative sense of treatment control, perceived more symptoms, and took Amiodarone had lower QOL. The health provider should pay more attention to the gender differences and influencing factors of QOL and consider these individual and essential factors in health care.

Psychometric properties of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire among Iranian parents of children with autism spectrum disorder

Background The Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) has been adapted for the study of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but its use has not been studied in Iran. In this study, we evaluated the psychometric properties of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Disorder (IPQ-R-ASD-Persian) and how Iranian parents’ perceptions of autism may be related to parental anxiety, depression, and affect. Method This study included 114 parents of children with ASD in Iran. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the IPQ-R-ASD-Persian, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule were administered. Confirmatory factor analysis and the maximum likelihood method based on the variance-covariance matrix were employed to explore the IPQ-R-ASD factor structure. Four measures of goodness-of-fit were utilized, which included chi-square/degree of freedom (χ2/df), comparative fit index (CFI), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR). Cronbach’s alpha and the corrected item-total correlation were used to measure internal consistency. The convergent validity was assessed by calculating the average variance extracted. Furthermore, we evaluated the test-retest reliability of the IPQ-R-ASD-Persian scales over two weeks using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Results There was no floor or ceiling effect for the IPQ-R-ASD-Persian scales. Cronbach’s α values were consistently higher than 0.70, except for Timeline-Cyclical (α = 0.484). All scales of the IPQ-R-ASD-Persian except for the Timeline-Cyclical scale generally showed good test-retest reliability over two weeks. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a seven-factor model (χ2/df = 1.62, CFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.064, SRMR = 0.098), similarly to the original IPQ-R instrument. Conclusions The IPQ-R-ASD-Persian demonstrated statistically acceptable reliability and validity levels supporting its use as a viable instrument for such research in Iran. As a result, this might be a useful approach for evaluating parents’ perceptions which is vital for supporting families and for developing effective interventions.

Association of illness perception and alexithymia with fatigue in hemodialysis recipients: a single-center, cross-sectional study

Fatigue in hemodialysis recipients interferes with daily activities and renal rehabilitation, and its underlying causes and treatment remain unclear. Psychological factors, like illness perceptions and alexithymia, cause fatigue in other diseases; however, their contribution to hemodialysis-related fatigue is unknown. This cross-sectional study included 53 hemodialysis recipients. To assess participants’ fatigue, we used a self-administered patient-reported outcome questionnaire whose items have shown correlation with those of established scales, such as the Profile of Mood States and Visual Analogue Scales. The associations among the scores of the revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (IPQ-R), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and fatigue were analyzed using bivariable and multivariable analyses. Patients with fatigue had significantly higher median scores for the IPQ-R subscales “Identity” and “Negative emotional representation about illness” than those without fatigue, suggesting the association of specific illness perception with fatigue. Median scores for the TAS-20 subscale “Difficulty identifying feelings” were also significantly higher among fatigued patients, suggesting the association of alexithymia with fatigue. Depression was not associated with fatigue. Multivariable logistic regression revealed the association of a high “Identity” score with the risk of fatigue (adjusted odds ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.73; P = 0.04), while there were no significant association between a high “Difficulty identifying feelings” score and the risk of fatigue (adjusted odds ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.95–1.24). Specific illness perception and alexithymia were slightly associated with hemodialysis-related fatigue. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for these conditions could reduce fatigue and promote renal rehabilitation.

Preliminary Validation of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in China.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common and highly malignant cancer in southern China. It is important to accurately assess the illness perception of nasopharyngeal carcinoma according to the common-sense model of self-regulation. The purpose was to validate the Chinese version of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for patients with Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A cross-sectional survey of 631 patients with Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was conducted in Guangzhou, China. The reliability of the scale was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. The factor structure was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of each dimension. The EFA revealed that the 29-item self-rated scale has a seven-factor structure consistent with the original scale and explained 67.3% of the variance after extraction and rotation. The scale showed satisfactory reliability. The item-total correlations ranged from -0.16 to 0.64 (p < 0.05). The item-subscale correlations ranged from 0.46 to 0.91 (p < 0.05). The item-other subscale correlations ranged from -0.38 to 0.51 and from -0.21 to 0.56 (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found between the timeline (acute/chronic) (r = 0.224, r = 0.166), consequences (r = 0.415, r = 0.338), timeline cyclical (r = 0.366, r = 0.284), emotional representations (r = 0.497, r = 0.465), personal control (r = -0.122, r = -0.134), treatment control (r = -0.135, r = -0.148), and illness coherence (r = -0.261, r = -0.213) subscales, and depression, anxiety (p < 0.05). The scale revealed acceptable reliability, factorial validity, and construct validity. It could be used to assess the illness representations of Chinese patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Predicting sense of coherence among caregiving partners of persons with multiple sclerosis.

Within the framework of the Salutogenic Model of Health, this study aimed to investigate sense of coherence among caregiving partners of persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), and its relationship with perceived social support and illness beliefs conceived as generalized resistance resources in tension management. In this cross-sectional study, 398 caregiving partners of PwMS (Mage = 44.62; 34.9% women and 65.1% men) filled in questionnaires measuring sense of coherence (Sense of Coherence Scale-13), perceived social support from family, friends and significant others (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), and illness beliefs (Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire). Hierarchical linear regression analysis was performed to assess the contribution of perceived support and illness beliefs to sense of coherence, controlling for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Perceived support from family and beliefs concerning illness-related emotional representations, illness coherence, and treatment control emerged as significant predictors of participants' sense of coherence. Higher perceived support from family and stronger beliefs in illness coherence and treatment control were associated with higher sense of coherence, while more negative emotional representations were related to lower sense of coherence values. Findings lend support to the relevance of a salutogenic approach to caregiving in multiple sclerosis. They further suggest the usefulness of interventions that can promote caregivers' sense of coherence and successful coping in life by benefitting from family support, favoring the construction of a coherent illness view, offering comprehensive information and expert guidance on treatment and rehabilitation opportunities, and promoting adaptive management of negative emotions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychosocial Factors in Chronic Illness Management in the Western Balkans: The Case of Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia

This study aims to evaluate the psychological and social aspects related to prolonged illness management among individuals diagnosed with chronic illness in the Balkans. Data were collected using self-report measures, including the Patient Activation Measure, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), Family Support Scale (FSS), Zarit Burden Interview, Patient-Provider Communication Scale, Chronic Illness Anticipated Stigma Scale (CIASS), and Perceived Discrimination Scale. The study involves 250 participants who completed surveys online and conducts multiple regression analysis to examine the interrelationships among the different factors. The results indicate moderate degrees of psychosocial suffering, with depression and anxiety being major factors. Effective coping strategies, familial support, and good communication with medical professionals are positively linked to improved overall results, while heavier burden placed on caregivers and perceived discrimination both exhibit negative correlations with health outcomes. The study emphasizes the need for specialized approaches that reflect a cultural sensibility related to chronic illness management struggles encountered by the population of the Balkans.

Development and validation of the illness perceptions questionnaire for youth anxiety and depression (IPQ-Anxiety and IPQ-Depression)

ABSTRACT Background The Revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (IPQ-R) is a well-established measure for measuring illness representations with sound psychometric properties. However, one limitation is that it provides a generic measure of illness representations and lacks specificity to individual health conditions, making it difficult to capture the nuances of illness beliefs for different populations. Objective The aim of this study was to develop reliable and valid versions of the IPQ-R for young people with anxiety and depression to better understand how they perceive and cognitively represent the course, severity, impact, and treatability of their anxiety and depression. Methods This mixed-methods study consisted of a qualitative study, involving semi-structured interviews (n = 26) followed by think-aloud interviews (n = 13), and a quantitative study (n = 349), resulting in the development of the IPQ-Anxiety (IPQ-A) and IPQ-Depression (IPQ-D). Item development is reported, along with the psychometric properties of the measures. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating the IPQ-A and IPQ-D with the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (B-IPQ) across equivalent dimensions. Results Results suggest that the IPQ-A, IPQ-D, B-IPQ-A and B-IPQ-D are valid and reliable tools for measuring mental illness representations. The measures show acceptable model fit, high factor loadings, and good to excellent internal consistency, test – retest reliability across subscales and concurrent validity with mental health measures. Conclusions The development of these measures represents an important step in the field of youth mental health by providing the opportunity for reliable assessment of young people’s conceptualisations of their anxiety and depression. Better understanding of young people’s illness beliefs has the potential to open a range of intervention possibilities by prioritising illness perceptions over the supposed objective condition severity and trajectory.

College students’ perceptions of concussion: Illness beliefs and masculinity norms predict stigma and willingness to seek treatment

College students’ beliefs and attitudes concerning concussion, and masculinity norms, were examined in relation to stigma and willingness to seek treatment for possible concussion. Beliefs were measured using a revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ). Participants: Participants were 631 undergraduates at a Northeastern university, most of whom were nonathletes with no concussion. Methods: Data were collected online. Regression analysis were performed to identify predictors of stigma and treatment willingness. Results: Beliefs that concussion symptoms reflect malingering, are controllable, and have psychological causes were related to more stigmatizing attitudes, as was endorsement of masculinity norms regarding winning and risk-taking. Believing that concussion symptoms are long-lasting and endorsing competitiveness, pain discounting, and self-reliance predicted willingness to seek treatment. Preliminary structural models showed adequate fit. Conclusions: In addition to beliefs assessed by the IPQ, traditional conceptions of masculinity warrant greater attention in the study of concussion-related stigma and willingness to seek treatment.

The relationship between illness perceptions and fluid-control adherence among Chinese hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Fluid-control adherence was important for hemodialysis (HD) patients, and while significant correlations between treatment adherence and illness perceptions have been found, there is limited research that explored the relationship between illness perceptions and fluid-control adherence. We sought to assess illness perceptions and fluid-control adherence and to explore the relationship between them among Chinese hemodialysis patients. A cross-sectional study of 253 Chinese HD patients was conducted. We recorded sociodemographic and disease characteristics, Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) responses, Fluid Control in Hemodialysis Patients Scale (FCHPS) scores and the interdialytic weight gain (IDWG). The total FCHPS score of hemodialysis patients was of a moderate level, and 45.85% hemodialysis patients’ IDWG exceeded 3.0 kg. Regression analysis revealed that sex, academic level, marital status, treatment control dimension and causal (physical) factors of illness perceptions explained 12.7% variance in the total FCHPS score. Age, normalized whole-body urea clearance (Kt/V), dry weight (DW) residual urine volume (mL/24 h) and consequence dimension of illness perceptions explained 29.0% variance in IDWG. About mediating effect analysis, positive indirect effects on IDWG were found for identity, consequences and emotional representations through the attitude dimension of FCHPS, and negative indirect effects on IDWG were found for treatment control and illness coherence through the attitude dimension of FCHPS. The results demonstrated that some sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and illness perceptions were associated with fluid-control adherence, and the patient’s attitude toward fluid control is an important mediator between illness perceptions and IDWG, implying that attitude can be a focus of intervention programs based on illness perceptions to improve Chinese HD patients’ fluid-control adherence.

Longitudinal trajectories of illness perception regarding breast cancer-related lymphedema among women with breast cancer

ObjectiveTo identify longitudinal trajectories of illness perception (IP) regarding breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) in the first six months after surgery among women with breast cancer and to explore the predictive effects of demographics and clinical factors on IP trajectories. MethodsFrom August 2019 to August 2021, a total of 352 patients participated in this study, 328 of whom were included in the data analysis. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected at baseline (1–3 days after surgery). The BCRL-specific revised illness perception questionnaire was used to measure IP regarding BCRL at baseline and 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post-surgery. A multilevel model was conducted to analyze the data. ResultsOver the first six months post-surgery, the “timeline acute/chronic” and “illness coherence” dimensions showed positive growth trajectories; the “personal control” and “treatment control” dimensions presented negative growth trajectories; and the trajectories of identity, consequences, cyclicality and emotional influence perceptions regarding BCRL showed no significant changes. Age, education level, marital status, employment status, family monthly income per person, cancer stage and status of removed lymph nodes were indicated to be predictive factors of IP trajectories. ConclusionsThe present study determined significant changes over the first six months post-surgery in four IP dimensions and predictive effects of some demographics and clinical details on IP trajectories. These findings may help healthcare providers know more about the dynamic characteristics of IPs regarding BCRL in patients with breast cancer and assist them in identifying patients with a tendency toward improper IP regarding BCRL.