Aaron McColpin
Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personality characteristics and the effect of disease acceptance on the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This study attempts to identify non-pharmacological ways to improve overall wellbeing of those with chronic diseases. Methods: The study included a quantitative correlational research design to examine this relationship by using selfreporting questionnaires and functional data. This study design helped to correlate the effect of personality type and disease acceptance on the HRQOL. Results: The study included 39 participants referred for pulmonary rehabilitation. The median age of the study participants was 74 years old. Of the participants, 56% (n=22) were male and 44% (n=17) were female. The median pack years smoked for participants was 40 pack years. The median years since disease diagnosis was 11 years. The mean FEV1% was 43% of predicted based upon age, gender and ethnicity. The study found that there was a significant negative correlation between HRQOL and disease acceptance, r=-0.42, p=0.008. There was a significant negative correlation between HRQOL and neurosis, r=-4.3, p=-0.007. The study analysis found a statistically significant negative correlation between neurosis and disease acceptance, r=-4.3, p=0.007. The study found that neurosis did mediate the relationship between HRQOL and disease acceptance. The analysis found that using a Spearman and Pearson correlation shows significance between the dependent variable HRQOL and the independent variables neurosis, r=-0.428, p=0.008, and disease acceptance, r=0.416, p=0.007. Conclusion: A broad range of factors determines healthrelated quality of life in those with chronic respiratory disease. This study did find a correlation between personality characteristics affecting quality of life in those with COPD.
