The Determinants of Living with Long-Term Conditions: An International Cross-Sectional Study.

It is essential that healthcare and social professionals understand the daily lives of people with chronic diseases, and the variables that influence them. The aim of this study was to identify the determinants influencing the process of living with long-term conditions. To investigate this, an observational, international, cross-sectional study was carried out. A consecutive sample of 1788 Spanish-speaking population living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus were included. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression models were performed. The linear regression models identified that social support (ß = 0.39, p < 0.001) and the satisfaction with life (ß = 0.37, p < 0.001) were the main determinants in the process of living with a long-term condition (49% of the variance). Age (ß = -0.08, p = 0.01) and disease duration (ß = 0.07, p = 0.01) were determinants only in the chronic heart failure subgroup, and country was significant in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease subgroup (ß = -0.15, p = 0.002). Satisfaction with life and social support were key determinants influencing the process of living with long-term conditions. As such, those aspects should be included in the design of interventions focused on the achievement of a positive living in people with long-term conditions.

Escala de convivencia con un proceso crónico: estudio piloto en pacientes con enfermedades crónicas / Living with Chronic Illness Scale: Pilot study in patients with several chronic diseases

OBJETIVO: Presentar el estudio piloto de la Escala de Convivencia con un proceso crónico (EC-PC) en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2, insuficiencia cardiaca crónica, enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y artrosis. DISEÑO: Estudio observacional, transversal y multicéntrico. Emplazamiento: Dos hospitales de atención especializada de Navarra y Madrid. PARTICIPANTES: 64 pacientes con diversos procesos crónicos, mayores de 18 años que acudan a centros de atención primaria y/o consultas externas. Los pacientes con deterioro cognitivo diagnosticado y/o trastornos psiquiátricos fueron excluidos. INTERVENCIONES: Las evaluaciones tuvieron una duración media de 15 minutos por paciente. Mediciones principales: Se evaluó la variable Convivencia con un proceso crónico, mediante la EC-PC. Se analizó la viabilidad/aceptabilidad, consistencia interna y validez de constructo. RESULTADOS: Para la muestra total, la EC-PC mostró una buena viabilidad y aceptabilidad, sin datos faltantes. El coeficiente alfa de Cronbach alcanzó valores entre 0,64 y 0,76, y el índice de homogeneidad fue superior a 0,30 en todos los dominios de la escala. Los valores de validez interna oscilaron entre 0,04 y 0,30. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la puntuación total de la escala en función del sexo o las diferentes patologías. Los pacientes describieron la escala como sencilla y útil. CONCLUSIONES: El estudio piloto de la EC-PC en pacientes con diversos procesos crónicos indica que es una medida breve, de fácil uso, fiable y válida. La EC-PC servirá para conocer de manera individualizada cómo el paciente convive con su proceso crónico y prevenir posibles aspectos negativos del día a día con la enfermedad

OBJECTIVE: To present the pilot study of the Living with Chronic Illness Scale (EC-PC) in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and osteoarthritis. DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional and multicenter study. LOCATION: Two specialized hospitals in Navarre and Madrid. PARTICIPANTS: 64 patients with several chronic diseases, older than 18 years old, that go to primary health centre and/or outpatients. Patients with cognitive deterioration and/or psychiatric disorders were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Evaluations had an average duration of 15 minutes per patient. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Patients completed the EC-PC and a questionnaire related to the scale. Feasibility/acceptability, internal consistency and construct validity was analyzed. RESULTS: For the total sample, the EC-PC showed a good viability and acceptability, without missing data and with almost 100% of the computable data. Cronbach's alpha coefficient reached values between 0.64 and 0.76, and the homogeneity index was higher than 0.30 in all domains of the scale. The values of internal validity ranged between 0.04 and 0.30. No significant differences were found (p> 0.05) in the total score of the scale according to gender or the different pathologies. The patients described the scale as simple and useful. CONCLUSIONS: The pilot study of the EC-PC in patients with different chronic illnesses showed that it is a brief, easy to use, reliable and valid measure. The EC-PC will serve to know in an individualized way, how the patient is living with his/her chronic process and to prevent possible negative aspects of the daily living with the disease

[Living with Chronic Illness Scale: Pilot study in patients with several chronic diseases]. / Escala de convivencia con un proceso crónico: estudio piloto en pacientes con enfermedades crónicas.

OBJECTIVE: To present the pilot study of the Living with Chronic Illness Scale (EC-PC) in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and osteoarthritis. DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional and multicenter study. LOCATION: Two specialized hospitals in Navarre and Madrid. PARTICIPANTS: 64 patients with several chronic diseases, older than 18 years old, that go to primary health centre and/or outpatients. Patients with cognitive deterioration and/or psychiatric disorders were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Evaluations had an average duration of 15 minutes per patient. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Patients completed the EC-PC and a questionnaire related to the scale. Feasibility/acceptability, internal consistency and construct validity was analyzed. RESULTS: For the total sample, the EC-PC showed a good viability and acceptability, without missing data and with almost 100% of the computable data. Cronbach's alpha coefficient reached values between 0.64 and 0.76, and the homogeneity index was higher than 0.30 in all domains of the scale. The values of internal validity ranged between 0.04 and 0.30. No significant differences were found (p> 0.05) in the total score of the scale according to gender or the different pathologies. The patients described the scale as simple and useful. CONCLUSIONS: The pilot study of the EC-PC in patients with different chronic illnesses showed that it is a brief, easy to use, reliable and valid measure. The EC-PC will serve to know in an individualized way, how the patient is living with his/her chronic process and to prevent possible negative aspects of the daily living with the disease.