Table 1 Adapted version of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ)
Question | Evaluated perception domain | Implication of a higher score | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | How much does your overweight affect your life? | Consequences: beliefs about the impact of the condition on physical, social and psychological well-being | Greater perceived influence of the condition upon life |
2 | How long do you think your overweight will continue? | Timeline: beliefs about the expected duration of the condition | A stronger belief in a chronic time course |
3 | How much control do you feel you have over your overweight? | Curability/controllability, personal control: beliefs about whether the condition can be cured or kept under control through self-management behaviour | Greater perceived personal control over the condition |
4 | How much do you think physical activity can help to improve your overweight? | Curability/controllability, behavioural control: beliefs about whether the condition can be cured or kept under control through physical activity | Greater perceived control over the condition by physical activity |
5 | How much do you experience symptoms from your overweight? | Identity: beliefs about the condition’s label and associated symptoms | The patient perceives more symptoms as a result of the condition |
6 | How concerned are you about your overweight? | Concern: evaluates to what extent concern is experienced | Greater feelings of concern about the condition |
7 | How much do you think a modification of your diet pattern can help improving your overweight? | Curability/controllability, behavioural control: beliefs about whether the condition can be ured or kept under control through diet | Greater perceived control over the condition by diet |
8 | How much does your overweight affect you emotionally? (e.g. does it make you angry, scared, upset or depressed?) | Emotional representations: beliefs about the affective responses associated with the illness | A stronger emotional response to the condition |
9 | Please list in rank-order the 3 most important factors that you believe caused your overweight. | Causal attribution: beliefs about factors or conditions to have caused the illness | |