Illness perceptions: impact on self-management and control in asthma

Abstract

Illness perceptions influence the way in which patients with asthma cope and their self-management of the illness. Illness perceptions can be assessed quite easily and directly, they inform healthcare providers about the psychosocial responses of patients towards their asthma, they are responsive to change in the clinical encounter or via self-management intervention training. Exploring patient's illness perceptions, therefore, is a crucial component of good clinical care.

Asthma Beliefs Are Associated with Medication Adherence in Older Asthmatics

“…Our findings mirror those of other studies that have examined beliefs related to the CSM and self-management in younger asthmatics. [17][18][19][20][21] Taken together, the literature demonstrates consistency across a broad spectrum of ages of negative health beliefs and the association of such beliefs with poor medication adherence. Consequently, these results highlight the importance of routine and basic illness and treatment education not just in asthmatic children and young adults, but also in older patients.…”

“…5,[12][13][14][15][16] A growing body of research suggests that certain health and illness beliefs represent another important barrier to good asthma medication adherence. [17][18][19][20][21][22] This body of research is grounded in the Common Sense Model (CSM) of SelfRegulation, which delineates five domains of illness representations that shape self-management behaviors: identity, timeline, cause, consequences, and control. 23,24 Identity refers to the symptoms that patients use as indicators of disease activity.…”

“…[17][18][19][20][21] For instance, the beliefs that asthma can be cured or is only intermittently present associated strongly with poor asthma medication adherence. [17][18][19][20][21] Beliefs about treatment, such as the notion that treatment is not necessary or safe, are also correlated with decreased adherence and lower prescription refill.…”

“…[17][18][19][20][21] For instance, the beliefs that asthma can be cured or is only intermittently present associated strongly with poor asthma medication adherence. [17][18][19][20][21] Beliefs about treatment, such as the notion that treatment is not necessary or safe, are also correlated with decreased adherence and lower prescription refill. [17][18][19][20][21] We have shown that these beliefs are frequently held by older asthmatics, 22 yet their influence on medication adherence has not been demonstrated among these older patients.…”

“…[17][18][19][20][21] Beliefs about treatment, such as the notion that treatment is not necessary or safe, are also correlated with decreased adherence and lower prescription refill. [17][18][19][20][21] We have shown that these beliefs are frequently held by older asthmatics, 22 yet their influence on medication adherence has not been demonstrated among these older patients. This is an important deficit in the literature, as associations observed in younger asthmatics may not necessarily apply to older patients.…”