Comparing cardiac patients’ stress coping strategies and healthy individuals in Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in Ilam in 2018

Background and Aim: Stress is a physiological response to defined biological and psychological stressors and coping strategies are a set of individual’s cognitive and behavioral efforts used to interpret and correct a stressful situation. Compatibility problems have been more reported in those cardiac patients have social problems and more stress beside their heart condition. Due to the fact that prevention and early detection of mental disorders can reduce some of its harmful effects, the present study aimed to compare cardiac patients’ stress coping strategies and healthy individuals in Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in Ilam in 2018. Methods: In this case-control study, the sample included 150 cardiac patients and 150 healthy subjects with suitable demographic data in comparison with the experimental group to be used as the control group. They were asked to complete Lazarus & Folkman coping strategies questionnaire which included 66 questions. Data was analyzed by SPSS software version 16 using independent t test.Results: Cardiac patients had a higher mean score of direct confrontation subscale than healthy people in terms of seeking social support, solution planning and positive reappraisal. Meanwhile, cardiac patients had a lower mean score of seeking social support subscale, solution planning and positive reappraisal than healthy people. Independent t-test showed statistically significant differences (P <0.005). There was no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group regarding subscales of taking a distance, self-control, avoiding and evading responsibility (P> 0.005). However, the experimental group had a higher mean of using coping strategies than the control group while the control group had a higher mean of taking responsibility subscale than the experimental group. Conclusion: Cardiac patients used coping strategies more frequently to deal with stressful situations than healthy individuals and used less problem-focused strategies. Obviously, health planners should note this point in planning and implementing mental health program for cardiac patients.

Keywords:

Lazarus & Folkman coping strategies , stress , cardiac patients