Adjustment in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Coping and Adjustment in People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
IRAS ID
178444
Contact name
Emily Kenefick
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Psychological research shows that adjustment in many long-term, chronic physical illnesses is influenced by patients’ specific beliefs about their illness. Research into Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in particular, shows that people’s beliefs about their COPD are associated with their adjustment to the illness and its symptoms.
Research has also shown that coping with acute physical infections is influenced by the way patients behave in response to the infection, i.e. their ‘illness behaviours’. This research implies that adjustment to more long-term, chronic illnesses may also be associated with patients' behaviours in response to the illness and its symptoms.
The first aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which, in addition to their beliefs about their illness, the behaviours of people with COPD with regard to their illness might be related to the extent to which they adjust to the illness. We predict a significant relationship.
The second aim of this study seeks to explain this predicted relationship- that is, to explain the way that the illness beliefs and illness behaviours of people with COPD might have an effect on their adjustment to their COPD. Recent research in other long-term physical illnesses (such as cancer) suggests that patients' level of self-compassion might explain this effect. That is, those with healthier beliefs and behaviours with regard to their COPD might enjoy better adjustment to their disease because they have higher levels of self-compassion.
To carry out these aims, beliefs about illness, behavioural responses to illness, self-compassion, and adjustment to illness will be measured using a number of questionnaires in people with COPD attending an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation group at a North London Hospital.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
15/WA/0175
Date of REC Opinion
8 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion