Longitudinal Studies on Illness Perceptions in Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review

Objective:To conduct a scoping review of longitudinal studies related to disease perception in cancer patients and to provide a reference for the improvement of disease perception in cancer patients.Methods:Using the scoping method,PubMed,Web of Science,The Cochrane Library,Medline,CNKI,Wanfang Database,VIP Chinese Scientific and Technical Journals Database,and China Biomedical Literature Database were searched up to July 2023 for analysis and discussion of the included literature.Results:A total of 19 articles were included,distributed across 9 countries including China,the Netherlands,and the United Kingdom,with 8 articles published in China.The study subjects included patients with breast cancer,colorectal cancer,laryngeal cancer,lung cancer,esophageal cancer,and bladder cancer.The content covered dynamic changes in disease perception,the impact of disease perception,and the influencing factors of disease perception.Conclusion:The number of longitudinal studies on disease perception in cancer patients is gradually increasing and becoming more diverse.However,issues such as a small total number of studies,single research methods,and short observation periods persist.In the future,it is necessary to conduct in-depth longitudinal research on disease perception in cancer patients,expand the scope of research fields,and provide more comprehensive theories to guide clinical treatment and nursing practices,ultimately improving the treatment outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients.

Correlation linking illness perception,negative emotions,and the post-operative recovery effect in patients with perianal disease

BACKGROUND Improvements in the standard of living have led to increased attention to perianal disease.Although surgical treatments are effective,the outcomes of postoperative recovery(POR)are influenced by various factors,including individual differences among patients,the characteristics of the disease itself,and the psychological state of the patient.Understanding these factors can help healthcare providers develop more personalized and effective post-operative care plans for patients with perianal disease.AIM To investigate the effect of illness perception(IP)and negative emotions on POR outcomes in patients with perianal disease.METHODS A total of 146 patients with perianal disease admitted to the First People's Hospital of Changde City from March to December 2023 were recruited.We employed a general information questionnaire,the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire(B-IPQ),and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS).We used the 15-item Quality of Recovery Score(QoR-15)to measure patients’recovery effects.Finally,we conducted Pearson’s correlation analysis to examine the relationship between pre-operative IP and anxiety and depression levels with POR quality.RESULTS Fifty-three(36.3%)had poor knowledge of their disease.Thirty(20.5%)were suspected of having anxiety and 99(67.8%)exhibited symptoms.Forty(27.4%)were suspected of having depression and 102(69.9%)displayed symptoms.The B-IPQ,HADS-A,HADS-D,and QoR-15 scores were 46.82±9.97,12.99±3.60,12.58±3.36,and 96.77±9.85,respectively.There was a negative correlation between pre-operative IP,anxiety,and depression with POR quality.The influence of age and disease course on post-operative rehabilitation effect are both negative.The impact of B-IPQ,HADS-A,and HADS-D on POR was negative.Collectively,these variables accounted for 72.6%of the variance in POR.CONCLUSION The quality of POR in patients with perianal disease is medium and is related to age,disease course,IP,anxiety,and depression.

Role of illness perception and self-efficacy in lifestyle modification among non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients

To describe the relationships between non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD) patient’s disease consequences and treatment perceptions, self-efficacy, and healthy lifestyle maintenance.METHODSA cross-sectional study among 146 ultrasound diagnosed NAFLD patients who visited the fatty liver clinic at the Tel-Aviv Medical Center. Eighty-seven of these individuals, participated in a clinical trial of physical activity and underwent fasting blood tests, analyzed at the same lab. Exclusion criteria included positivity for serum HBsAg or anti-HCV antibodies; fatty liver suspected to be secondary to hepatotoxic drugs; excessive alcohol consumption (≥ 30 g/d in men or ≥ 20 g/d in women) and positive markers of genetic or immune-mediated liver diseases. Patients were asked to complete a self-report structured questionnaire, assembled by the Israeli Center for Disease Control. Nutrition habits were measured using six yes/no questions (0 = no, 1 = yes) adopted from the national survey questionnaire. Participants in the clinical trial completed a detailed semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) reporting their habitual nutritional intake during the past year. Self-efficacy was assessed by the Self-Efficacy Scale questionnaire, emotional representation, degree of illness understanding, timeline perception, treatment perception and symptoms were measured by the Brief Illness Perception questionnaire. Illness consequences were measured by the Personal Models of Diabetes Interview questionnaire. A path analysis was performed to describe the interrelationships between the patients’ illness perceptions, and assess the extent to which the data fit a prediction of nutritional habits.RESULTSThe study sample included 54.1% men, with a mean age of 47.76 ± 11.68 years (range: 20-60) and mean body mass index of 31.56 ± 4.6. The average perceived nutrition habits score was 4.73 ± 1.45 on a scale between 0-6, where 6 represents the healthiest eating habits. Most of the study participants (57.2%) did not feel they fully understood what NAFLD is. Better nutritional habits were positively predicted by the degree of illness understanding (β = 0.26; P = 0.002) and self-efficacy (β = 0.25; P = 0.003). Perceptions of more severe illness consequences were related with higher emotional representation (β = 0.55; P < 0.001), which was related with lower self-efficacy (β = -0.17; P = 0.034). The perception of treatment effectiveness was positively related with self-efficacy (β = 0.32; P < 0.001). In accordance with the correlation between self-efficacy and the perceived nutrition habits score, self-efficacy was also correlated with nutrient intake evaluated by the FFQ; negatively with saturated fat (percent of saturated fat calories from total calories) (r = -0.28, P = 0.010) and positively with fiber (r = 0.22, P = 0.047) and vitamin C intake (r = 0.34, P = 0.002). In a sub analysis of the clinical trial participants, objectively measured compliance to physical activity regimen was positively correlated with the self-efficacy level (r = 0.34, P = 0.046).CONCLUSIONSelf-efficacy and illness understanding are major determinants of lifestyle-modification among NAFLD patients. This information can assist clinicians in improving compliance with lifestyle changes among these patients.

The influence of treatment modality on illness perception and secondary prevention outcomes among patients with acute myocardial infarction

Objectives:This study aims to determine if patients with acute myocardial infarction differ in illness perception and secondary prevention outcomes depending on the treatment they received.Methods:A repeated measures design was used to compare patients with acute myocardial infarction receiving three different treatment modalities:ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention,ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by thrombolytic therapy,and non ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated by medication.A convenient sampling technique was used to recruit 206 patients with acute myocardial infarction who agreed to participate in the current study.Patients'illness perception,physical activity,and demographical and clinical data were collected during hospital admission and again at 6 months.Results:A total of 186 patients completed the study.Results showed that the primary percutaneous coronary intervention group perceived their illness as acute rather than chronic(P=0.034)and has lower personal control(P=0.032),higher treatment control(P=0.025),and higher perception of illness coherence(P=0.022)compared with patients receiving thrombolytic therapy and treated after non-ST segment infarction.Moreover,they report low control of their blood pressure(P=0.013)and less physical activity(P=0.001).Conclusion:The results of this study revealed that patients'treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention had negative illness perception and limited behavioral changes 6 months after hospitalization in comparison with other treatment modalities such as percutaneous coronary intervention and thrombolytic treatment.Further research is recommended to confirm this association with longer follow-up study and among different cultures.

Illness perception and cardiovascular health behaviour among persons with ischemic heart disease in Indonesia

Objective:A study was conducted to explore the level of illness perception,the level of cardiovascular health behaviour and the relationship between illness perception and cardiovascular health behaviour among persons with ischemic heart disease(IHD)in a community setting.Method:The participants comprised 235 persons with IHD.The instruments used were as follows:1)Demographic Data and Health Information,2)The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire(Brief IPQ),3)The Open-ended Questionnaire(OEQ),and 4)The Modified Cardiac Health Behaviour Scale(MCHBS).Findings from the OEQ are used to assess in-depth illness perception and to extend the information obtained from the Brief IPQ.The design of the study was descriptive correlational.The data were analysed using descriptive statistics to present the demographic data and health information.Inferential statistics was used to resolve the relationship between illness perception and cardiovascular health behaviour by using Pearson's Product Moment Correlation.Result:The mean score of illness perception was at a moderate level(M=43.65,SD=3.93),whereas the mean score of cardiovascular health behaviour was at a high level(M=80.29,SD=5.42).A significant positive relationship existed between illness perception and cardiovascular health behaviour among persons with IHD(r=0.38,P<0.01).Conclusion:Persons with higher illness perception showed a positive correlation with higher cardiovascular health behaviour at a significant level of 0.01.Results provided important information for nurses to develop an intervention program to promoting appropriate illness perception and cardiovascular health behaviour among persons with IHD.

Effects of illness perception on negative emotions and fatigue in chronic rheumatic diseases:Rumination as a possible mediator

BACKGROUND Illness perception has long been hypothesized to be linked to psychological well-b eing in patients with rheumatic diseases,although substantial evidence is lacking,and the contribution of ruminative coping style to this relationship is unclear.AIM To investigate the roles of illness perception and rumination in predicting fatigue and negative emotions in patients with chronic rheumatic diseases.METHODS Illness perception,rumination,fatigue and negative emotions(i.e.depression,anxiety and stress)were assessed by the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised,Stress Reactive Rumination Scale,Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue,and the Depression,Anxiety and Stress Scale respectively.Multivariate regression analysis,the Sobel test,and the bootstrap were used to identify the mediating effect of rumination.RESULTS All five subscales of illness perception,including perceived illness identity,chronicity,cyclical nature,consequences and coherence of illness,were significantly associated with fatigue and negative emotions.In mediational analysis,rumination was found to mediate three components of illness perception(the identity,cyclical nature and consequences of illness)and negative emotions/fatigue.CONCLUSION Perceived identity,cyclical nature,and consequences of illness are significantly associated with fatigue and negative emotions in patients with chronic rheumatic diseases and these associations are mediated by rumination.Our findings suggest that psychological intervention should target rumination to improve physical and emotional well-being of patients with chronic rheumatic diseases.

Illness Perception, Treatment Adherence and Coping in Persons with Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Angioplasty

Background and Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of sudden death. In this article, we compared patients’ illness perception (IP), treatment adherence and coping mechanisms of patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Methods: In this descriptive, prospective observational study IP, treatment adherence and coping of 140 patients were evaluated pre-PTCA, at the time of hospital discharge and 1 to 3 months post-PTCA by Illness Perception Questionnaire, Morisky Treatment Adherence and Carver’s brief COPE questionnaires. Results: 1 - 3 months post-PTCA, all dimensions of IP changed significantly except personal and treatment control. Adherence scores decreased simultaneously. With respect to coping mechanisms, all increased except behavioral disengagement, emotional support, instrumental support and religion which decreased significantly post-PTCA. Conclusions: In Overall, an improved IP and increased use of controllable causal attributions led to an increase in medication adherence and adaptive coping strategies. Post-treatment health behaviors are predictable by assessing patients’ illness-related beliefs beforehand.

The Coping Styles and Perception of Illness in Patients with Breast Cancer—Relation to Body Image and Type of Surgery

Breast cancer is considered one of the most frequent causes of morbidity and death in women.Individuals’response to information regarding health threats and illness can influence the adjustment of the treatment to existing conditions including the issues of non-completion of treatment or non-attendance at medical appointments.The study aimed to examine the relationship between illness perception,body image dissatisfaction and(mal)adaptive coping styles in breast cancer patients.A sample of 197 patients with diagnosed breast cancer hospitalized at the Center for Oncology and Radiology,Kragujevac,Serbia,was surveyed.The instruments included sociodemographic questionnaire,a Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire(BIPQ),a Body Image Scale(BIS),and a Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale(Mini-MAС).Results showed that 52%of the variance of maladaptive coping style in women who underwent mastectomy was explained by the negative illness perception,while body image dissatisfaction reflected through this connection(CFI>.95,GFI>.95,RMSEA=.01,SRMR=.08).Similar results were found in patients with breast-conserving surgery but with lower percentage(36%)of variance explained(CFI>.95,GFI>.95,RMSEA<.02,SRMR<.05).If confirmed by further studies,these results would suggest that patients who underwent mastectomy tend to be more dissatisfied with their body image,have tendency to perceive illness as threatening and resort to maladaptive coping styles.However,any form of appearance modification,including breast-conserving surgery,carries the risk of body image dissatisfaction,and consequently the risk of maladaptive coping behaviors.Our results suggest that health professionals and public policies should put an additional focus on the assessment of the patient’s body image dissatisfaction,to improve the health and wellbeing of the affected women.

Medication beliefs predict medication adherence in ambulatory patients with decompensated cirrhosis

AIM To investigate the impact of medication beliefs, illness perceptions and quality of life on medication adherence in people with decompensated cirrhosis.METHODS One hundred adults with decompensated cirrhosis completed a structured questionnaire when they attended for routine outpatient hepatology review. Measures of self-reported medication adherence(Morisky Medication Adherence Scale), beliefs surrounding medications(Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire), perceptions of illness and medicines(Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire), and quality of life(Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire) were examined. Clinical data were obtained via patient history and review of medical records. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and stepwise backwards regression techniques were used to construct the multivariable logistic regression model. Statistical significance was set at alpha = 0.05.RESULTS Medication adherence was " High " in 42 % o f participants, "Medium" in 37%, and "Low" in 21%. Compared to patients with "High" adherence, those with "Medium" or "Low" adherence were more likely to report difficulty affording their medications(P < 0.001), lower perception of treatment helpfulness(P = 0.003) and stronger medication concerns relative to medication necessity beliefs(P = 0.003). People with "Low" adherence also experienced greater symptom burden and poorer quality of life, including more frequent abdominal pain(P = 0.023), shortness of breath(P = 0.030), and emotional disturbances(P = 0.050). Multivariable analysis identified having stronger medication concerns relative to necessity beliefs(Necessity-Concerns Differential ≤ 5, OR = 3.66, 95%CI: 1.18-11.40) and more frequent shortness of breath(shortness of breath score ≤ 3, OR = 3.87,95%CI: 1.22-12.25) as independent predictors of "Low"adherence.CONCLUSION The association between "Low" adherence and patients having strong concerns or doubting the necessity or helpfulness of their medications should be explored further given the clinical relevance.

Gender differences in self-care maintenance and its associations among patients with chronic heart failure

Objectives:To identify the gender differences in self-care maintenance and its associations among chronic heart failure patients using the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model.Methods:Two hundred and ten patients(54.0%female)with chronic heart failure participated in this cross-sectional study.Self-care,knowledge of heart failure,social support and illness perception were measured using the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index,the questionnaire of heart failure knowledge,the Perceived Social Support Scale,and the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire,respectively.Results:Mean scores for self-care maintenance were 51.4±14.8 in men and 55.6±14.1 in women(t=-2.066,P<0.05).Associated factors of self-care maintenance were social support and self-care confidence in men and the knowledge of heart failure,self-care management and self-care confidence in women.The relationship between social support and self-care maintenance was meditated by selfcare confidence in men,whereas the relationship between knowledge of heart failure and self-care maintenance was meditated by self-care management and self-care confidence in women.Conclusions:Self-care maintenance were inadequate in both genders with chronic heart failure.Interventions for enhancing social support and self-care confidence in men patients,and strengthening knowledge of heart failure,self-care management and self-care confidence in women patients,may facilitate self-care maintenance.

Nursing Care Provided to Families of Children with Leukemia in a Hospital

The study aimed to analyze the actions of health nursing care provided to families of children with leukemia in a Private Institution ofMaceio. A descriptive, observational, exploratory, qualitative approach is used in the study. The categories were analyzed： link, empowerment and acceptance. It was noted about empowering the nursing staff has traits approach with children, with little attention to the preparation of the family for autonomy in patient care. As the host, it was observed that the nurse had praised in dealing with patients and relatives and solving problems; however with respect to the nursing staffthat activity was not evident. But the bond between the two parties was hindered by constant exchanges of staff in different shifts. It was evident traces ofa caregiver modeling by the nursing staff, but with drawbacks, hindering progress in caring for family members of children with leukemia.