title: Perception of disease severity in adult patients with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the perception of disease severity in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), investigating its relationship with clinical score, radiographic score, respiratory function tests, adherence to treatment and perception of self-care practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, cross-sectional study involving CF patients treated in a program for adults with CF. The perception of disease severity, adherence to treatment and reported self-care practices were evaluated by means of questionnaires. Clinical data, Shwachman-Kulczycki clinical score, Brasfield radiographic score and spirometry were obtained for all of the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 38 patients studied, 3 (7.9%) patients rated their perception of health status as well below average; 5 (13.2%), as below average; 15 (39.5%), as average; 10 (26.3%), as above average; and 5 (13.2%), as well above average. The perception of disease severity correlated significantly with clinical score (r = 0.43, p = 0.007), FVC (r = 0.34, p = 0.034), FEV1 (r = 0.38, p = 0.019) and self-care practices (r = 0.33, p = 0.044), but not with degree of adherence (r = -0.03, p = 0.842) and radiographic score (r = 0.33, p = 0.51).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The perception of disease severity correlated with objective measurements of disease severity (clinical score and respiratory function tests) and with reported self-care practices, but not with adherence to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. pdalcin@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Paulo de Tarso Roth
authors.initials: Pde T
authors.lastname: Dalcin
authors.forename: Greice
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rampon
authors.forename: Lílian Rech
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Pasin
authors.forename: Sinara Corrêa
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Gretchem Mesquita
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ramon
authors.forename: Viviane Ziebell de
authors.initials: VZ
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010465:Perception; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult