Correlation between perceived symptoms, self-rated health and coping strategies in patients with asthma-like symptoms but negative asthma tests

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Abstract
The aim of the study was to describe how patients with asthma-like symptoms rate the frequency of perceived symptoms, their quality of life related to health and the strategies they use to cope with their disorder. The aim was also to find any correlation between the ratings of quality of life, coping strategies used and the frequency of perceived symptoms. Thirty-two patients, six men and 26 women, aged 20 - 63 years, with asthma-like symptoms were drawn consecutively from a special clinic for asthma and allergy. They answered the Nijmegen Symptom Questionnaire (NQ), the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WOC). The total mean score on the NQ was 29.95/64. On the SF-36, the patients scored highest for physical functioning and lowest for general health and vitality. The three most commonly used strategies on the WOC were planful problem solving, seeking social support and self-controlling. A negative significant correlation was found between the total NQ score and five of the eight domains on the SF-36, while a positive significant correlation was seen for seeking social support on the WOC. When it came to the four components of the NQ, more significant correlations, negative and positive, were found between the scales on the SF-36 and WOC and central tetany, peripheral tetany and anxious feelings than for shortness of breath. These results could be useful in the rehabilitation of asthma-like patients.

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