A possible limitation of the present study is the fact
that only 52% of the initially invited patients participated.
We cannot exclude the possibility that the most
distressed patients were more likely to participate,which might skew the results. However, this is an explorative
study aiming to investigate illness perceptions
in patients after long-term remission of acromegaly. We
believe that the present results give a good first overview
of how patients perceive acromegaly. Another limitation
might be the fact that the reference samples differ
in age distribution. To date, it is unclear whether illness
perceptions change with age. Although several determinants
theoretically could contribute to our observations
in these patients, a detailed analysis of each of
these factors is not reliable considering the relatively
small group of acromegaly patients. Future studies examining
the differences in illness perceptions between
patients with various (endocrine) disorders in larger
samples should consider correcting for possible confounders
like age.
In summary, in patients with long-term remission of
acromegaly, illness perceptions are affected and correlate
strongly with impaired QoL. Patients reported more negative
illness perceptions than patients with acute illness,
but more positive illness perceptions than patients with
chronic diseases. We propose that a targeted self-management
intervention might help in improving ineffective coping
strategies and affected illness perceptions and thereby
improve QoL, at least in part, in patients with long-term
remission of acromegaly.
 
A possible limitation of the present study is the factthat only 52% of the initially invited patients participated.We cannot exclude the possibility that the mostdistressed patients were more likely to participate,which might skew the results. However, this is an explorativestudy aiming to investigate illness perceptionsin patients after long-term remission of acromegaly. Webelieve that the present results give a good first overviewof how patients perceive acromegaly. Another limitationmight be the fact that the reference samples differin age distribution. To date, it is unclear whether illnessperceptions change with age. Although several determinantstheoretically could contribute to our observationsin these patients, a detailed analysis of each ofthese factors is not reliable considering the relativelysmall group of acromegaly patients. Future studies examiningthe differences in illness perceptions betweenpatients with various (endocrine) disorders in largersamples should consider correcting for possible confounderslike age.In summary, in patients with long-term remission ofacromegaly, illness perceptions are affected and correlatestrongly with impaired QoL. Patients reported more negativeillness perceptions than patients with acute illness,but more positive illness perceptions than patients withchronic diseases. We propose that a targeted self-managementintervention might help in improving ineffective copingstrategies and affected illness perceptions and therebyimprove QoL, at least in part, in patients with long-termremission of acromegaly.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
