Barbara Jm Mulder

Publications (2)0 Total impact

• Article: Illness perceptions of adults with congenital heart disease and their predictive value for quality of life two years later.

  Dounya Schoormans, Barbara Jm Mulder, Joost P van Melle, Petronella G Pieper, Arie Pj van Dijk, Gertjan Tj Sieswerda, Mariët S Hulsbergen-Zwarts, Thijs Hwm Plokker, Leo Gh Brunninkhuis, Hubert W Vliegen, Mirjam Ag Sprangers
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  ABSTRACT: Background:To improve patients' quality of life (QoL) we need to identify modifiable determinants, such as illness perceptions. Patients' illness perceptions are known to regulate emotional responses and health-behaviour. Illness perceptions comprise several components: consequences, control, coherence, changeability and emotional representations.Aims:To examine (a) the relation between patient characteristics and illness perceptions, and (b) the independent predictive value of illness perceptions for future QoL.Methods:A longitudinal study in 845 patients with congenital heart disease was conducted. Patients completed three questionnaires: the IPQ-R (illness perceptions) and two years later the SF-36 and TAAQOL-CHD (QoL). Linear regression analyses were performed relating illness perceptions to patient characteristics (sex, age, disease complexity and functional status) and QoL.Results:Patients with a complex defect or poor functional status reported poor illness perceptions. Independent of patient characteristics, poor illness perceptions (i.e. a strong belief that the illness has severe consequences; a weak belief that you have a coherent illness understanding and that the illness can be controlled by treatment; and a strong belief that the illness is changeable and causes negative emotions) were predictive of future QoL.Conclusion:Illness perceptions independently predict QoL, suggesting that QoL may be improved by altering patients' beliefs about their illness. For example, increasing patients' knowledge regarding their disease and informing them about treatment opportunities may enhance their QoL.
  European journal of cardiovascular nursing: journal of the Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing of the European Society of Cardiology 03/2013;
• Article: Patients with a congenital heart defect and Type D personality feel functionally more impaired, report a poorer health status and quality of life, but use less healthcare.

  Dounya Schoormans, Barbara Jm Mulder, Joost P van Melle, Els G Pieper, Arie Pj van Dijk, Gert-Jan Tj Sieswerda, Mariët S Hulsbergen-Zwarts, Thijs Hwm Plokker, Leo Gh Brunninkhuis, Hubert W Vliegen, Mirjam Ag Sprangers
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  ABSTRACT: Background: Type D personality, characterized by high levels of negative affectivity and social inhibition, is related to mortality, morbidity, poor health status, quality of life (QoL) and less healthcare utilization in various cardiovascular patient groups. To date, studies in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are lacking. Aims: (1) To examine the prevalence of Type D personality in CHD patients; (2) to compare Type D to non-Type D patients with regard to disease severity, functional status, health status and QoL; and (3) to examine the extent to which Type D personality is independently related to healthcare utilization. Methods: A total of 1109 adult CHD patients were included in a questionnaire survey. Due to missing data, 302 patients were excluded. Results: The prevalence of Type D personality was 20.4%. Type D patients reported a poorer functional status, health status and QoL than non-Type D patients (p<0.05). Type D patients reported less healthcare use than non-Type D patients (primary and cardiac outpatient healthcare: adjusted OR=0.56, 95% CI=0.35-0.90; inpatient healthcare: adjusted OR=0.38, 95% CI=0.17-0.83). Results of a post-hoc analysis showed a high prevalence of Type D personality in patients with a poor functional status who did not consult their cardiologist. Conclusion: Type D patients report a poorer functional status, health status and QoL, but less healthcare utilization. In clinical practice, patients should be screened for Type D personality, since social inhibition may prevent them from contacting a healthcare provider in the event of symptom aggravation.
  European journal of cardiovascular nursing: journal of the Working Group on Cardiovascular Nursing of the European Society of Cardiology 03/2012; 11(3):349-55.