Quality of life and acceptance of illness among patients with chronic respiratory diseases

The purpose of this study was to determine quality of life (QoL) and acceptance of illness in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The study involved 315 adult patients of the mean age of 63.9 ± 15.7 years. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument Short Form and the Acceptance of Illness Scale were used. The mean score for QoL was 2.0 ± 1.3. The highest scores were obtained in the Social Relationship Domain (13.9 ± 2.7) and the lowest in the Environmental Domain (10.5 ± 2.2). The strongest correlations within QoL domains were noted between Physical and Psychological Domains: r = 0.611 (p < 0.001), Psychological and Social Domains: r = 0.605 (p < 0.001). The overall degree of illness acceptance was low (26.0 ± 7.8). The strongest correlations were observed between illness acceptance and Physical: r = 0.591 (p < 0.001) and Psychological Domains: r = 0.450 (p < 0.001). We conclude that illness acceptance can be augmented by improving the patient's clinical state and by the provision of psychological support and QoL by improving the Psychological and Environmental Domains.

► Acceptance of illness and QoL in patients with chronic respiratory diseases are low.
► Illness acceptance can be increased by improving somatic and psychological state.
► QoL can be increased by improving the Psychological and Environmental Domains.