Correlation between illness perceptions and self-reported degree-of-worry in somatic ill patients in emergency care:...

The study aimed to investigate the correlation between illness perceptions and self-reported degree-of-worry (DOW) in patients presenting to the emergency department with acute somatic illness.

A cross-sectional survey study collected data from a survey on DOW, the Brief-illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) and demographics.

An emergency department at a university hospital in the Capital Region of Denmark.

944 patients (≥18 years) presenting to the emergency department with acute somatic illness. Data collection was conducted during day and evening shifts on weekdays from 13 January to 19 December 2020.

Correlations between B-IPQ scores and DOW, including (1) the total B-IPQ score, (2) emotional representations (emotion and illness concern combined) and (3) the single items, respectively. Secondary analysis: linear relationships between the single B-IPQ items and DOW. Analyses included the variables sex, age, reason for contact, self-reported comorbidity, employment, highest educational attainment, cohabitation status and region of origin.

The study found moderate correlations between the total illness perceptions score and DOW of 0.47 (95% CI 0.42 to 0.52) and emotional representations and DOW of 0.57 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.61). Linear regression showed the largest and most significant changes in DOW with an increasing score of the B-IPQ items for consequence, illness concern and emotion.

Illness perceptions overall and perceptions of consequences of symptoms, illness concern and emotional representations are correlated with patients' DOW, with increasing DOW related to more negative illness perceptions. This finding contributes to insight into how illness perceptions are related to illness worry when presenting to the emergency department. Incorporating the novel DOW scale may aid triage and clinical encounters in the emergency department.

ClinicalTrails.gov reference: NCT04226040.