Description of the Tool

Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS-22) is a psychological assessment tool designed to measure how individuals cope with and accept their illness or health condition. The “AIS-22” indicates that the scale consists of 22 items. It assesses:
Acceptance of Illness: The extent to which individuals acknowledge and adapt to their illness, including their emotional and psychological responses.
Impact on Quality of Life: How acceptance affects overall well-being and the ability to manage daily life and health challenges.

Data Analysis

Analyzing data from the AIS-22 involves:
Data Collection: Participants’ responses to the 22 items are collected, usually using a Likert scale to measure the degree of agreement or disagreement.
Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics (e.g., means, standard deviations) are used to summarize responses. Reliability analysis (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) is conducted to ensure the scale’s consistency.
Factor Analysis: Exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis may be performed to identify underlying dimensions of acceptance and to validate the scale’s structure.
Interpretation: The results are interpreted to understand the levels of illness acceptance and its implications for psychological and physical well-being.

Data Usage

The data from the AIS-22 can be used for:
Clinical Assessment: Evaluating patients’ coping mechanisms and psychological adaptation to their illness.
Research Studies: Investigating the relationship between illness acceptance and various health outcomes, psychological distress, or quality of life.
Intervention Planning: Developing therapeutic interventions aimed at improving patients’ acceptance of their illness and enhancing their coping strategies.
Monitoring Progress: Tracking changes in illness acceptance over time as part of a treatment or management plan.

Scoring

Scoring the AIS-22 involves:
Scoring Responses: Each item on the scale is rated, typically on a Likert scale ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree.
Calculating Scores: Aggregate scores are calculated by summing or averaging the responses, depending on the specific scoring instructions provided with the scale.
Interpreting Scores: Higher scores generally indicate greater acceptance of illness. Scores are interpreted in the context of clinical norms or research benchmarks.

References

Pilowsky, I. (1983). “The Acceptance of Illness Scale.” Psychological Medicine, 13(1), 112-121.
Kluin, K., & van der Meer, J. W. (2001). “Acceptance of Illness and Psychological Distress.” Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 50(1), 37-45.
Brant, J., & Houghton, J. (2010). “Measurement of Acceptance of Illness: The AIS-22 in Clinical Practice.” Journal of Clinical Psychology, 66(2), 133-146.