Illness perceptions, cognitive and behavioural responses to chronic breathlessness in individuals living with advanced respiratory disease: an observational study.

Background: Understanding the complexity and multidimensional nature of chronic breathlessness is key to its successful management. The aim of this study was to explore illness perceptions, cognitive and behavioural responses to chronic breathlessness in individuals living with advanced respiratory disease.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional secondary analysis of data from a feasibility randomised control trial (SELF-BREATHE) for individuals living with chronic breathlessness due to advanced disease. All participants completed the following questionnaires: numerical rating scale (NRS) breathlessness severity, NRS distress due to breathlessness, NRS self-efficacy for managing breathlessness, Dyspnea-12 (D-12), Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ), Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ) and the Cognitive and Behavioural Responses Questionnaire, short version (CBRQ-S). The associations between the Brief IPQ and CBRQ-S with NRS breathlessness severity, distress and self-efficacy, D-12 and CRQ were examined using Spearman's rho correlation coefficient r. A Spearman's r of ≥0.50 was predefined as the threshold to denote important associations between variables. A p-value of <0.008 was considered statistically significant, to account for the number of comparisons performed.

Results: The illness perception items consequences, identity, concern and emotional response were associated with increased breathlessness severity, increased distress, reduced breathlessness self-management ability and lower health-related quality of life. Symptom focusing and embarrassment avoidance were identified as important cognitive responses to chronic breathlessness.

Conclusion: Interventions that directly target illness perceptions, cognitive and behavioural responses to chronic breathlessness may improve symptom burden, self-efficacy and health-related quality of life.