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Illness and treatment perceptions of ESRD patients: different stages, different perceptions?

Heijmans, M., Jansen, D., Rijken, M., Grootendorst, D., Dekker, F., Boeschoten, E., Kaptein, A.A. Illness and treatment perceptions of ESRD patients: different stages, different perceptions? Psychology & Health: 2009, 24(suppl. 1), p. 203. Abstract. 23rd European Health Psychology Society (EHPS) Conference 'From knowledge to interventions', Pisa, 23-26 september 2009.
This study aims to assess illness and treatment perceptions of patients with ESRD in different stages of the treatment process and to examine changes in these perceptions over time. Pre-dialysis patients (n=109), patients up to three years on dialysis (n=69) and patients longer than three years on dialysis (n=97) completed the IPQ-Brief and the Treatment Effects Questionnaire. Demographic and clinical data were also assessed. Beliefs about illness and treatment differ according to the phase of illness and, therefore, to the type of treatment patients are in. The illness perceptions and treatment perceptions of dialysis patients become more negative and more definite the longer patients are on dialysis. The best moment to offer interventions to alter maladaptive beliefs in patients with ESRD seems to be in the pre-dialysis phase or at the start of dialysis where patients are most susceptible to change.