The impact of actual and perceived disease severity on pre-operative psychological well-being and illness behaviour in adult congenital heart disease patients. (27th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Callus, Edward; Utens, Elisabeth M. W. J.; Quadri, Emilia; Ricci, Cristian; Carminati, Mario; Giamberti, Alessandro; Chessa, Massimo
• Is Part Of: Cardiology in the young. Volume 24:Number 2(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 275
• Page End: 282
• Publication Date: 2013-03-27
• Subjects: Paediatric cardiology, -- psychology, -- quality of life; Pediatric cardiology -- Periodicals; 618.9212
• DOI: 10.1017/S1047951113000218
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1047-9511

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the objective medical parameters related to congenital heart disease and patients' ratings of cardiac disease severity were related to psychological well-being and illness behaviour during the pre-operative period. Methods : A total of 143 patients (63 male patients; 16–73 years old) with congenital heart disease evaluated the severity of their cardiac condition using a numerical rating scale ranging from 0, indicating the least severe condition, to 100, indicating the most severe condition. Psychological well-being was assessed using the Psychological General Well-Being Index (total score ≤60 indicating severe distress) and illness behaviour using the Illness Behavior Questionnaire. Results : Pre-operative psychological well-being was not related to the objective medical parameters reflecting cardiac disease severity. In contrast, total psychological well-being scores correlated significantly with patients' subjective ratings of disease severity (p < 0.001). When compared with the reference values from the Italian population, the mean scores of the patients on psychological well-being were similar. As regards the Illness Behavior Questionnaire, the scores on denial were higher and those on hypochondria were lower compared with other hospitalised patients. Conclusions : This study shows that the perception of cardiac disease severity, and not the medical parameters in congenital heart disease, is related to the patients' pre-operative psychological state. Thus, more importance needs to be given to assessing the patients' pre-operative perception and psychological state independently of cardiac severity. Targeted interventions with regard to the cardiac condition are recommended.