BELIEFS ON COPING WITH ILLNESS - A CONSUMERS PERSPECTIVE

This article discusses the results of a study on beliefs on coping wit h illness and coping with the health care system. Using the concept ma pping method, members of patient organizations (n = 172) sorted their beliefs on coping with illness and coping with the health care system into two dimensions (priority and content). Statistical analysis revea ls eight beliefs on coping with illness, with ''autonomy'' and ''accep tance of illness'' as the most important. It also reveals eight belief s on coping with the health care system, of which the most important i s a professional relationship with the physician based on mutual trust and respect between two equal partners. It is argued that these belie fs represent idealized images of coping with illness and coping with t he health care system. In relation to the political debate on responsi ble use of the health care system in Western countries, these findings show many patients are willing to act as responsible consumers of hea lth care, that is, if providers of health care create an environment i n which patients receive guidance in determining alternatives. Copyrig ht (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd