Influenza and Respiratory Care

Bożena Mroczek, Katarzyna Parzuchowska, Maria Jasińska-Starczewska, Tomasz Grodzki, Donata Kurpas, Mroczek, Bożena, Parzuchowska, Katarzyna, Jasińska-Starczewska, Maria, Grodzki, Tomasz, Kurpas, Donata

Asthma patients should be considered not only in terms of the medical aspects, but also the nonmedical issues associated with the psychological domain, since these are factors that can significantly improve patients' health state, quality of life, and illness acceptance, and can contribute to the reduction of healthcare utilization. The purpose of this study was to assess the acceptance of illness among asthma patients and their quality of life in the psychological domain, as well as to identify factors that influence illness acceptance and quality of life in the psychological domain. We examined 172 patients with asthma (median age: 58; range: 18-89 years) recruited from two pulmonology wards. We demonstrate that the patients with low levels of illness acceptance and a high healthcare service index had low quality of life in the mental domain. Older age; being separated, divorced, or widowed; and having BMI > 25, all significantly affect the levels of quality of life and illness acceptance. In conclusion, measurements of health-related quality of life and illness acceptance are useful for estimating the impact and progression of asthma. These results confirm that psychological functioning should be taken into account alongside the somatic state.