Passive Coping Strategies Are Associated With More Impairment In Quality Of Life In Patients With Fibrous Dysplasia

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Psychology
• Quality of Life Studies

Background:

• Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is associated with reported impairments in quality of life (QoL).
• Understanding coping mechanisms in FD is crucial for patient well-being.
• Coping strategies may influence QoL and disease severity in FD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine coping strategies employed by patients with fibrous dysplasia (FD).
• To assess the association between coping strategies and QoL in FD.
• To determine if coping strategies correlate with disease severity in FD.

Main Methods:

• Ninety-two FD patients completed the Utrecht Coping List (UCL), SF-36, and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI).
• Coping strategies were compared to Dutch reference data and chronic pain patients.
• Statistical analyses examined associations between coping, QoL, and clinical severity.

Main Results:

• FD patients expressed more emotions than healthy adults and used more active coping, distraction, and social support than chronic pain patients.
• Passive coping correlated with greater impairment in social function, physical role, mental health, vitality, and general health.
• Avoidant coping and emotion expression were linked to worse mental health and reduced vitality.

Conclusions:

• Patients with FD exhibit distinct coping strategies compared to general and chronic pain populations.
• Passive coping strategies significantly impact multiple domains of QoL in FD.
• Coping behavior in FD is not determined by clinical characteristics, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions to improve QoL.