Hope, optimism and quality of life... Last year, Emma Cole invited Emphasis readers to take part in research around hope, optimism and quality of life with PH. In September, she showcased the results at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) international congress, and here she shares them with you.
Hi everyone,
ing my Some of you may remember read arch on hope, invitation to take par t in some rese spring edition of optimism and quality of life in the to say a big thank Emphasis last year. Firstly, I’d like naged to collect you to everyone that took par t. I ma in helping to lots of data which was really useful life with PH. understand the factors that affect a great way to Attending the ERS conference was ses, researchers get information out to doctors, nur nd the world, and and other professionals from arou reness and inspire hopefully helped to increase awa area. Now I’d others to undertake research in this share some of also like to take the opportunity to the findings with you.
significant The data showed that there were health-related relationships between hope and imism and quality of life and also between opt health-related quality of life.
e found to have More specifically, people that wer reported having higher hope and optimism levels than people better health-related quality of life imism. Age or with lower levels of hope and opt effect but people gender did not seem to have any to be less hopeful using oxygen reported themselves use oxygen. than those than those that did not between people There were also a few differences reasons behind with different types of PH but the e and optimism this were not fully understood. Hop quality of life are thought to affect health-related t processes and through differences in our though ls. perceptions of our situation and goa
thought People who are more optimistic are g gin to be able to adapt better to challen
WINTER 2016 emphasis 42
es in situations and can adjust their hop situations that can’t be changed.
t qua lity of life Prev ious research has shown tha PH and this study is ver y important to people with lth psychology is the first step towards using hea ieve their goa l to help people with the disease ach re is evidence to of a bet ter qua lity of life. Now the such as hope and show that psychological factors ted qua lity of optimism are linked to hea lth-rela archers to star t life in PH, it may be possible for rese cou ld enhance looking at whether interventions ether this creates hope and optimism levels and wh qua lity of life an improvement in hea lth-related ld also study for people with PH. Researchers cou to see if similar symptoms and physica l well-being psychological links can be found and whether ial to improve interventions may have the potent as well. the physica l aspects of the disease
helping By taking part in research you are t underpin tha people to understand the factors the experience of living with PH. can attempt to The more we know, the bet ter we lives of people develop ways to help improve the a huge thank with this condition. So once again, I hope you will you to everyone that took par t and in the future. continue to take par t in research
Emma Cole
MSc Hea lth Psychology
