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Whiplash-associated disorders--predicting disability from a process-oriented perspective of coping
1Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences/Section of Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. anne.soderlund@pubcare.uu.se
Clinical Rehabilitation
|March 6, 2003
Summary
Coping strategies significantly influence disability over time in patients with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Teaching adaptive coping early can improve long-term outcomes for WAD patients.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) present complex challenges for patient recovery.
- Understanding the evolving role of patient coping mechanisms is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal relationship between coping strategies and disability in patients with WAD.
- To determine how the influence of coping on disability changes throughout the first year post-injury.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study design over 12 months.
- Involved 53 patients with WAD from a university orthopaedic clinic.
- Utilized the Pain Disability Index (PDI) and Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) for assessment.
Main Results:
- The proportion of disability variance explained by coping strategies increased significantly over the 12-month follow-up period.
- Coping emerged as an increasingly important factor in determining patient disability over time.
Conclusions:
- Coping strategies play a pivotal and growing role in the disability experienced by WAD patients.
- Early intervention focused on teaching active and adaptive coping skills may enhance long-term recovery and improve patient outcomes.