Modifiable correlates of illness perceptions in adults with chronic somatic conditions: A systematic review

Abstract

When individuals become ill, they want to understand and give meaning to their illness. The interpretation of this illness experience, or illness perception, is influenced by a range of individual, contextual, and cultural factors. Some of these factors may be modifiable by nursing interventions. The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate which modifiable factors were correlated with illness perceptions across studies of adults with different chronic somatic diseases. Using search terms tailored to each of four electronic databases, studies retrieved were reviewed by two independent evaluators, and each relevant article was assessed for methodological quality. Results were standardized by calculating correlation coefficients. Fifteen papers on illness perceptions in a variety of chronic diseases met the inclusion criteria. All used standardized measures of illness perceptions. We identified five groups of modifiable correlates of illness perceptions: illness-related factors, psychosocial factors, medication beliefs, information provision and satisfaction with information received, and quality of care. Our findings add to the knowledge of modifiable factors correlated with illness perceptions, including the importance of illness-related factors and psychosocial factors such as anxiety and depression. Knowledge of these correlates can facilitate understanding of patients' illness perceptions and might be useful in tailoring patient education programs.

<p>The impact of personal and cultural beliefs on medication adherence of patients with chronic illnesses: a systematic review</p>

“…Eventually, patients may adopt the perspective of professionals, but they will continue to try to understand their symptom experience based on personal perceptions, not the illness entity, and create more barriers to adherence to therapeutic regimens 29. Therefore, it is important prior to and during treatment to assess patients’ views about their illness, symptoms, treatments and also their satisfaction with information received 41…”

“…Understanding patients’ pre-existing perceptions of illness before giving new information is required. In this way, health care professionals and patients have the opportunity to recognize gaps, confusions and misconceptions in the patient’s perceptions 41. In addition, patients need to be educated about their illness, symptoms and medications.…”

Perceptions of illness as predictive factors for perceived stress in patients participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program

“…In contrast, Princip et al () reported that, following acute myocardial infarction, patients' self‐ and clinician‐rated post‐traumatic stress was associated with subjective perceptions of their illness. This result could be explained by similarities or differences in sociodemographic factors for study populations, which are known correlates and mediators of perceptions of illness (Arat, De Cock, Moons, Vandenberghe, & Westhovens, ).…”

Factors Influencing Self-Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Community-Dwelling Adults

“…These findings support those of existing studies in which participants have similarly expressed frustration with their health care encounters, particularly in relation to information provision and feeling recognized and heard by health care providers (Disler et al, 2012; Jeon et al, 2010; McDonald, Higgins, & Gibson, 2013). The need for information has been identified as a task common across chronic condition self-management, as a factor important to engagement in recommended health behaviors (Ryan & Sawin, 2009), and as a modifiable correlate of illness perceptions (Arat, De Cock, Moons, Vandenberghe, & Westhovens, 2018). The participants of this study directly shared recommendations regarding the potential for improving the COPD-related health information provision during health care encounters and offered insights into some of the perceived structural barriers encountered.…”