AB1547-HPR COPING STRATEGIES IN CHRONIC RHEUMATIC DISEASES: A PRELIMINARY STUDY
Authors: D. Karagianni, T. Simopoulou, C. Katsiari, I. Alexiou, D. Bogdanos, L. Sakkas
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2024)

<h3>Background:</h3> When faced with a chronic disease, a patient attempts to cope with the stressful situation by applying coping strategies. While several studies have examined coping strategies in other patients, no studies have addressed thus far this issue in patients with rheumatic diseases. Understanding what coping strategies are used by rheumatic patients is important for the management of the emotional state of patients. <h3>Objectives:</h3> To compare for the first-time coping strategies of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a cross-sectional study. <h3>Methods:</h3> Sixty patients (females: 78.3%) were divided into three equal groups according to their disease type (SSc, SLE, and RA) and completed Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ). The questionnaire consisted of five factors: a) Positive approach (11 items), including positive re-evaluation and problem solving, b) Seeking social support (6 items), c) Prayer/ Daydream (8 items), including prayer and searching for divine intervention, d) Avoidance/ Escape (9 items), including resignation and denial, and e) Assertive problem solving (4 items). <h3>Results:</h3> The average age of participants was 55.4±13.1 years and the mean disease duration was 9.6±8 years. Descriptive statistics by disease are shown in Table 1. A Manova was carried out to analyze the data with coping strategies as the dependent variables (DVs) and the three patient groups as the independent variable (IV). There was a significant multivariate main effect of group [Pillai's trace =.97, F(16, 102) = 1.9, p =.03, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> =.23] originating from significant differences on Positive re-evaluation, F(2, 57) = 3.24, p =.05, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> =.01, Seeking social support F(2, 57) = 4.28, p =.02, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> =.13, and Prayer F(2, 57) = 4.83, p =.01, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> =.14 as revealed by the follow-up ANOVAs. REGWQ post hoc tests showed that the SLE group scored significantly lower on Positive re-evaluation (p =.04), higher on Seeking social support (p =.02) compared to SSc group, and higher on Prayer (p =.01) compared to the RA group. A Mancova test, controlling for participants' age and number of years after diagnosis, showed a significant effect of disease group [Pillai's trace =.46, F(16, 98) = 1.9, p =.04, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> =.23] but not a significant effect of age (p &gt;.05) or disease duration (p &gt;.05). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> There were differences in coping strategies among patients with chronic rheumatic diseases. This finding has therapeutic implications as patients with higher levels of perceived stress typically employ emotion-focused coping strategies, whereas patients who control stressors are more prone to use problem-focused strategies [1]. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> [1] Lazarus, R. S., &amp; Folkman, S. (1984). <i>Stress, appraisal, and coping</i>. Springer publishing company. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> <b>NIL.</b> <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> Domniki Karagianni: None declared, Theodora Simopoulou Lecture honoraria from Abbvie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer., Grants to support the research and educational activities from Genesis pharma. Travel bursaries to attend scientific meetings and congresses from Amgen, Janssen., Christina Katsiari Speaker fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, Abbvie, UCB, Lilly, Bristol, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Consultant fees from Mylan, Grants to support the research and educational activities as well as travel bursaries to attend scientific meetings and congresses from Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, Abbvie, UCB, Lilly, Bristol, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Celltrion Healthcare, Ioannis Alexiou Participation in advisory board for Abbvie., Lecture honoraria from Genesis pharma., Genesis pharma., Dimitrios Bogdanos Lecture Honoria from Enorasis, Genesis Pharma, Novartis, Euroimmun, Menarini Hellas, Boehringer Ingelheim, Fresenius Kabi, Werfen Diagnosticsw., Grants from Elpen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Demo and Menarini Hellas. Travel bursaries to attend scientific meetings and congresses from Hospital Line, Pfizer, Elpen, Aenorasis Hellas, Novartis and IFT Hellas., Lazaros Sakkas: None declared.