The relationship between illness perception and worsening of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome symptoms: A cross‐sectional study. Issue 8 (9th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garba, Kamaluddeen; Avery, Miriam; Yusuh, Muhammadbukhoree; Abdelwahab, Omar; Harris, Scott; Birch, Brian R.; Lwaleed, Bashir A.
• Is Part Of: Neurourology and urodynamics. Volume 40:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: 2020
• Page End: 2025
• Publication Date: 2021-09-09
• Subjects: illness perception -- interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome -- O'Leary Sant score -- severity; Urinary organs -- Periodicals; Urodynamics -- Periodicals; Urology -- Periodicals; 616.6
• DOI: 10.1002/nau.24787
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0733-2467

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate disease perception in a cohort of patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) using the Brief Illness Perception‐Questionnaire (BIP‐Q) and to evaluate how this might relate to disease severity. Materials and Methods: The study is a cross‐sectional survey amongst members of Bladder Health UK who had previously received a clinical diagnosis of IC/PBS. A hyperlink containing the questionnaire was sent to the patient group's website and interested members accessed and completed the survey. Participants' inclusion was based on a prior clinical diagnosis of IC/PBS, current O'Leary Sant scores supportive of the diagnosis, and age between 18 and 80. A sample size of 171 was used in the study. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIP‐Q) and the O'Leary/Sant symptoms and problem indices questionnaire were used to collect data. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to test the relationship between items of BIP‐Q and severity of IC/PBS. Content analysis was used for the causal domain and subsequently analysed as percentages. Results: Six hundred and one members accessed the questionnaire of whom 159 returned completed questionnaires. One hundred and twenty‐two of 159 (≥75%) respondents believe that their illness will continue indefinitely. The majority of the respondents indicated that IC/PBS had a negative impact on their daily lives, caused them worry and made them emotionally unstable. Of the 8 BIP‐Q items, those most predictive of disease severity were (adjusted odd ratio and confidence intervals): consequence 0.094 (0.023–0.386); treatment control 2.702 (1.256–5.812); identity 0.141 (0.033–0.600); concern 9.363 (1.521–57.632). Conclusions: Our findings show that IC/PBS negatively impacts participant's quality of life and emotional wellbeing. Higher expectation for treatment benefit and increasing levels of patient concern are predictive for severity of IC/PBS.