Research Information System
Ankara Medical Journal, vol.18, no.1, pp.94-102, 2018 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the illness perception in patients with ankylosingspondilitis (AS), to evaluate disease activity, functional ability, emotional status and to investigate theirassociation with quality of life (QoL).Materials and Methods: Sixty‐seven patients with AS were included in this study. The Bath AnkylosingSpondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI)were used for the assessment of disease activity and of physical functions, respectively. The AnkylosingSpondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) questionnaire was used for disease‐related quality of life and TheBrief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B‐IPQ) was used for the assessment of illness perception in ASpatients. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used for the assessment of psychological status.Results: Based on our results, significant association was found between QoL and illness perceptions.However, QoL was most associated with functional status and disease activity.Conclusion: Assessment of illness perception in routine clinical practice could contribute to a betterunderstanding of problems in patients’ behavior that may disturb adherence to treatment.Psychotherapeutic approaches in addition to conventional therapy might attempt to improve patient’sQoL in AS.