Investigation of the lived experiences and illness perceptions of adults with sudden onset neurological conditions
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Date
01/12/2017Author
McAleese, Niamh
Guzman, Azucena
Metadata
Abstract
Purpose: The systematic review summarised the literature on the impact of
patient illness perceptions on health outcomes and coping after an acute
neurological event, guided by Leventhal’s Self-Regulatory Model (SRM). The
empirical study investigated individuals’ lived experiences of emotionalism, a
sudden onset neurological disorder characterised by involuntary laughter and
crying. A further aim was to develop a questionnaire measuring beliefs about
emotionalism based on patients’ perspectives.
Method: The review identified seventeen articles through database searches
using predefined inclusion criteria. In the empirical paper, eighteen individuals
took part in a qualitative study to explore their experiences of emotionalism.
Results: Findings provided support for the SRM in acute neurological
populations. Negative illness perceptions were associated with a range of poor
health outcomes and unhelpful coping behaviours. The empirical paper
provided rich individual accounts of the social and personal impact of
emotionalism. Four themes were identified and used to develop a
questionnaire measuring beliefs about emotionalism.
Conclusions: Both chapters emphasise the value of eliciting patient beliefs
about their neurological condition and of providing support at the early stages
of recovery. The clinical implications and directions for future research were
discussed as was the need for further validation of the questionnaire.