title: The sense of coherence in patients with Menière's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate how the ability to adapt, measured by the sense of coherence (SOC), is related to specific complaints of Menière's disease (MD) and the disease specific and general health related quality of life (EQ-5D) and on disease specific impact of the disease (MD-impact).
  
  
  METHODS
  Postal survey, including a structured questionnaire on EQ-5D, SOC, symptoms, positive experiences, and the impact of MD, was sent to the members of the Finnish Menière Federation, reporting a diagnosis compatible with the condition. A sample of 547 members replied and were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SOC reflected the disabilities caused by symptoms of MD and psychosocial factors including verbal score scale (VSS) anxiety (p<0.01) and loss of vitality (p<0.001). Higher SOC scores were related to better scores in EQ-5D and lower scores in MD-impact. Positive attitudes consequential to MD were associated with higher SOC scores reflecting better control over the consequences of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SOC is an element of patient's attitude toward illness and correlates with perceived good health. Patients with higher SOC scores are more content with their quality of life. Future research should focus on whether influencing modifiable psychological factors, such as positive attitudes, could improve adaptive ability in MD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Helsinki University Hospital, PB 220, 00029 HUS, Finland.
authors.forename: Sirpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ketola
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Helsinki University Hospital, PB 220, 00029 HUS, Finland.
authors.forename: Hilla
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Levo
authors.affiliation: School of Information Sciences, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Jyrki
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rasku
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere University Hospital, 33014 Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Ilmari
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pyykkö
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Helsinki University Hospital, PB 220, 00029 HUS, Finland. Electronic address: Erna.Kentala@hus.fi.
authors.forename: Erna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kentala
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Coping; Menière; Quality of life; Sense of coherence