Coping strategies and attitudes towards health in cardiac patients

Highlights. The importance of psychological assessment and psychological support in Cardiology Departments has been demonstrated. For the first time, predominant coping strategy in cardiac patients was revealed.
Background. Why do patients with the same disease, disease course, prognosis and treatment have different outcomes? One hypothesis points to the influence of internal resources used in coping with the disease. A.B. Smulewicz in 1984 identified the association between the clinical symptoms and mental state of the patient.
Aim. To determine characteristics of coping behavior and attitude toward health in cardiac patients from Surgical and Therapeutic Departments.
Methods. 122 patients admitted to the State Autonomous Healthcare Institution “N.A. Semashko Republican Clinical Hospital” were included in the study. The 1st group consisted of in-patients from the Department of Surgical Treatment of Heart Rhythm Disorders and Electrical Cardiac Stimulation (61 patients); the 2nd group consisted of patients from the 1st Cardiology Department (61 patients). A questionnaire developed by R. Lazarus and S. Falkman in 1988 was used to determine coping strategies, and a questionnaire developed by R. A. Berezovskaya in 2005 was used to assess attitudes towards health.
Results. Active coping strategy predominates in surgical patients, and distancing and avoidant strategies predominate in therapeutic patients. Correlation between characteristics of coping strategy and attitudes toward health was analyzed: active coping strategies are accompanied by high behavioral, cognitive, and emotional aspects. An inverse correlation is noted in distancing and avoidant coping strategies.
Conclusion. Psychological comfort and correct attitude of patient to his/her disease is an important part of rehabilitation that highlights the significance of psychometric testing in cardiac patients.

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