Illness Identity: A Novel Predictor for Healthcare Use in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To optimize healthcare use of adults with congenital heart disease, all important predictors of healthcare utilization should be identified. Clinical and psychological characteristics (eg, age and depression) have been found to be associated with healthcare use. However, the concept of illness identity, which assesses the degree to which congenital heart disease is integrated into one's identity, has not yet been investigated in association with healthcare use. Hence, the purpose of the study is to examine the predictive value of illness identity for healthcare use.

Methods and results

In this ambispective analytical observational cohort study, 216 adults with congenital heart disease were included. The self-reported Illness Identity Questionnaire was used to asse

SUBMITTER: Van Bulck L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6015344 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature