The evaluation of factors affecting the perception of i̇llness and chronic diseases

Aims: The purposes of the study were to assess the illness perception of diabetes patients and to determine the factors associated with illness perception of diabetes patients.Material and method: The study adopted a descriptive design. The study was conducted at endocrinology clinic of a hospital of University located in Istanbul. Data were collected between January and March 2012. The study sample comprised of 100 patients with diabetes who were gave consent to participate into the study and who returned the questionnaires. Data were collected using Patient Information Questionnaire and The Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R). Permissions were obtained from the institution and scale developers. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 16).Results: The mean age of the patients was 56.13±11.728 and most of the sample was females (54%), married (85%) and house wife (44%). More than half of the sample had a history of chronic diseases, 20% had a history of hypertension and 10% had a history of heart failure. Fifty one percent of patients reported a family history of chronic illness and 23% of the patients reported diabetes. Mean value of length of diabetes diagnosis was 8.31± 8.415, length of insulin treatment was 6 ±7.398. Mean score of The Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire was found 117.86 ± 16.773. The mean score of Personal control subgroup was the highest in all subgroup scores (19.33 ± 4.793) and mean score of Timeline-cyclical subgroup was the lowest (11.60 ± 2.867).Conclusion: Study found that ?Timeline-acute/chronic? subgroup of the IPQ-R scores were affected positively in patients who had a person who takes responsibility for patient. Timeline-cyclical subgroup scores of the IPQ-R was found to be associated with the type of insulin used by patient and the presence of another chronic illness. There was statistically significant differences between Emotional representation subscale scores of the IPQ-R in relation to regularity of medical check-ups for diabetes (p <0.05). Study found no statistically significant differences between scale scores in relation to variables such as age, length since diabetes diagnosis, gender, marital status, education level, occupation, income level, a history of operation, frequency of health check-ups, and type of diabetes (p > 0.05).Key words: Chronic illness, patient, diabetes, illness perception, factor