Association Between Illness Perception and Care-Seeking Intention in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure

This study aimed to investigate the association between illness perception and care-seeking intention in Japanese patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). A cross-sectional study was conducted on 160 CHF outpatients with reference to the framework of the Common-Sense Model. Illness perception was measured using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ). Care-seeking intention was assessed based on the intent to consult medical care at the onset of varying symptoms. Association between illness perception and the care-seeking intention was analyzed by logistic regression analysis after univariate analysis. In the univariate analysis, illness perception was only associated with care-seeking intention at the onset of dyspnea at rest. Treatment control, which means the expected effectiveness of treatment in B-IPQ, was associated with care-seeking intention at the onset of dyspnea at rest (OR: 1.261, 95% CI [1.025–1.550]). It may be necessary to assess the patients’ perceptions of their treatment and explain its effects.