IDENTIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF COPING STRATEGIES UTILIZED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (NURSING).
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 272
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the coping strategies utilized by individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to determine the relationship between selected demographic variables and the coping strategies. The theory of stress and coping explicated by Richard S. Lazarus served as the theoretical framework. Answers to three major research questions were sought to assist in identification and description of coping strategies utilized by individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The study used a descriptive correlational design. The sample consisted of 40 stable nonhospitalized subjects who were diagnosed as having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for at least two years. The subjects were chosen at random and completed a demographic data sheet as well as two forms (disease form and general stress form) of the Jalowiec Coping Scale. The Jalowiec Coping Scale measured both instrumental and palliative coping strategies.

Data were analyzed using frequency and correlational statistics, t tests and multiple regression analyses. Overall, subjects used more instrumental than palliative coping strategies to deal with both the stress of disease and stress in general. None of the demographic variables differentiated between coping strategies used by subjects in the study. Correlated t tests revealed that subjects used significantly more instrumental and palliative strategies to deal with stress in general than stress of the disease. Four multiple regression analyses were performed. Social position, perceived health status and gender predicted disease stress instrumental coping scores. Marital status, age, and social position predicted general stress instrumental coping scores. Perceived health status, pack year history, religion, gender and social position predicted disease stress palliative coping scores. No prediction equation could be formulated for the general stress palliative coping scores.

It is recommended that nurses who implement health teaching plans for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease include primarily instrumental coping strategies. Future research is needed to identify and describe coping strategies of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across a variety of stressful situations over time.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-07, Section: B, page: 2107.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1984.

School code: 0227.