Illness Perception and Coping Strategies on the Perceived Quality of Life in Adults with Coronary Heart Diseases: A Model Evaluation

Abstract

Background: Patients' perceptions of illness can influence their compliance with medical recommendations and, consequently, their perceived quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate illness perception in patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted on 300 individuals with CHD, who were selected from the specialized heart clinics affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in 2018 using the convenient method. The researcher used the brief illness perception questionnaire (B-IPQ), the coping schemas inventory (CSI), and a 3-item questionnaire (designed by the researcher) to collect data. The Data were analyzed by the Structural Equation Modeling Modeling (path analysis) in LISREL based on the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) at P < 0.01 and P < 0.05. Results: A total of 60% of the individuals aged between 30 to 65, including 60.3% male and 39.7% female. Based on the research model, paths of coping strategies directly affected the perceived quality of life. Illness cognition directly impacts coping strategies and indirectly affects the perceived quality of life through the mediating role of managing strategies. Based on the evaluation of SRMI, perceived quality of life can be predictive through coping strategies and illness cognition. Conclusions: Based on the results, patients should be informed about their illness’s cognitive components and adaptive coping strategies, including situational coping strategies, coping by social support, acceptance, and active emotional expression coping to improve their quality of life.