Relationship between Illness Perceptions and Quality of Life in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Background and purpose: Health related quality of life (HRQOL) is a main outcome in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Several psychological factors are mentioned as effective factors in determining HRQOL in IBS patients. The aim of this study is to determine the association between patient's illness perceptions and HRQOL in IBS sufferers. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study 160 patients with IBS who were referred to psycho-somatic clinic (related to Noor hospital of Isfahan) were participated. Patients' illness perceptions and HRQOL were assessed by Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief-IPQ) and IBS specific quality of life questionnaire (IBS-QOL-34). Information gathered from questionnaires was finally analyzed by descriptive statistic methods, Pearson correlation and Canonical correlation method. Results: Results of analysis performed by canonical correlation method showed significant association between patient's illness perception and HRQOL in IBS sufferers (Canonical correlations: 0.84, P<0.001). Among illness perception subscales, Emotions (P<0.001, r=0.69), Consequence (P<0.001, r=0.67), Identity (P<0.001, r=52), Concern (P<0.001, 0.51), Timeline (P<0.001, r=49) and Personal Control (P<0.001, r=0.19), respectively, had the most significant correlation with HRQOL, and there was no relation found between Illness Comprehensibility or treatment control and HRQOL. Conclusion: Patient's illness perceptions seem to play a role in determining HRQOL in IBS sufferers. Therefor )psychological interventions based on patients' Illness perceptions are recommended for these patients.