Comparison of Personal Resources in Patients Who Differently Estimate the Impact of Multiple Sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Discrepancies between physicians' assessment and patients' subjective representations of the disease severity may influence physician-patient communication and management of a chronic illness, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). For these reasons, it is important to recognize factors that distinguish patients who differently estimate the impact of MS.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to verify if the patients who overestimate or underestimate the impact of MS differ in their perception of personal resources from individuals presenting with a realistic appraisal of their physical condition.


METHODS
A total of 172 women and 92 men diagnosed with MS completed Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale, University of Washington Self Efficacy Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Body Esteem Scale, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, Treatment Beliefs Scale, Actually Received Support Scale, and Socioeconomic resources scale. Physician's assessment of health status was determined with Expanded Disability Status Scale.


RESULTS
Linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the subsets of patients with various patterns of subjective health and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores. Patients overestimating the impact of their disease presented with significantly lower levels of self-esteem, self-efficacy in MS, and body esteem; furthermore, they perceived their condition more threatening than did realists and underestimators. They also assessed anti-MS treatment worse, had less socioeconomic resources, and received less support than underestimators. Additionally, underestimators presented with significantly better perception of their disease, self, and body than did realists.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-assessment of MS-related symptoms is associated with specific perception of personal resources in coping with the disease. These findings may facilitate communication with patients and point to new directions for future research on adaptation to MS.
Department of Physical Culture of People with Disabilities, University School of Physical Education, ul. Królowej Jadwigi 27/39, 61-871, Poznan, Poland. mwilski@wp.pl.|Department of Physiotherapy and Knowledge about Health, State University of Applied Sciences, Konin, Poland. mwilski@wp.pl.
Maciej
M
Wilski
Department of Physiotherapy and Knowledge about Health, State University of Applied Sciences, Konin, Poland.|Department of Psychology, University School of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland.
Maciej
M
Tomczak
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Illness adjustment; Illness perception; Multiple sclerosis; Personal resources; Physical functioning