Contributions
Abstract: EP1578
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: RIMS - Symptoms Management
Background: Illness perception (IP) is considered one of the most important predictors of multiple sclerosis (MS) adjustment. So far, correlates of IP in MS have not been subjected to extensive empirical research. This knowledge is important for understanding how IP are developed and how they should be modified, and at what patient groups should the interventions be targeted.
Purpose: This presentation is a report of a study examining the degree to which sociodemographic, illness-related, and psychosocial variables are related to perceptions of disease severity in patients with MS.
Methods: The cross-sectional study included 283 MS patients, who completed Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and a set of questionnaires measuring socioeconomic resources, social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, body esteem, perceived impact of MS, treatment beliefs and treatment adherence. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants were collected with a self-report survey. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to determine relationships between the variables.
Results: A hierarchical multiple regression revealed that five variables: self-esteem (b = -0.23, p ≤ 0.001), body esteem (b = -0.16, p ≤ 0.001), perceived physical impact of MS (b = 0.18, p ≤ 0.001), self-efficacy in MS (b = -0.18, p = 0.001) and socioeconomic resources (b = -0.13, p = 0.005), were significant correlates of IP in our study group. These variables explained 41% of variance in the dependent variable. Moreover, correlations between IP and other measured variables were obtained.
Conclusions: Positive perception of illness severity, which plays a significant role in adjustment to MS, is associated with positive self- and body esteem, better self-efficacy in MS, positive perception of MS impact on physical condition, and better socioeconomic resources. These variables are more salient correlates of IP in MS than objective clinical variables such as severity, type and duration of MS. These findings produce new knowledge that may facilitate communication with patients and indicate new area for potential psychological intervention aimed at improving patient"s IP.
Disclosure:
Maciej Wilski - nothing to disclose
Maciej Tomczak - nothing to disclose
Abstract: EP1578
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: RIMS - Symptoms Management
Background: Illness perception (IP) is considered one of the most important predictors of multiple sclerosis (MS) adjustment. So far, correlates of IP in MS have not been subjected to extensive empirical research. This knowledge is important for understanding how IP are developed and how they should be modified, and at what patient groups should the interventions be targeted.
Purpose: This presentation is a report of a study examining the degree to which sociodemographic, illness-related, and psychosocial variables are related to perceptions of disease severity in patients with MS.
Methods: The cross-sectional study included 283 MS patients, who completed Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and a set of questionnaires measuring socioeconomic resources, social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, body esteem, perceived impact of MS, treatment beliefs and treatment adherence. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants were collected with a self-report survey. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to determine relationships between the variables.
Results: A hierarchical multiple regression revealed that five variables: self-esteem (b = -0.23, p ≤ 0.001), body esteem (b = -0.16, p ≤ 0.001), perceived physical impact of MS (b = 0.18, p ≤ 0.001), self-efficacy in MS (b = -0.18, p = 0.001) and socioeconomic resources (b = -0.13, p = 0.005), were significant correlates of IP in our study group. These variables explained 41% of variance in the dependent variable. Moreover, correlations between IP and other measured variables were obtained.
Conclusions: Positive perception of illness severity, which plays a significant role in adjustment to MS, is associated with positive self- and body esteem, better self-efficacy in MS, positive perception of MS impact on physical condition, and better socioeconomic resources. These variables are more salient correlates of IP in MS than objective clinical variables such as severity, type and duration of MS. These findings produce new knowledge that may facilitate communication with patients and indicate new area for potential psychological intervention aimed at improving patient"s IP.
Disclosure:
Maciej Wilski - nothing to disclose
Maciej Tomczak - nothing to disclose