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Perceived stressors and coping strategies among heart transplant candidates
S A Cupples1, M T Nolan, S M Augustine
1Washington Hospital Center, DC, USA.
Insights
Heart transplant candidates experience moderate stress, primarily from their condition and family concerns. They effectively use positive coping strategies like thinking positively and maintaining normalcy throughout the transplant process.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychology
- Transplant Medicine
Background:
- Heart transplantation is a life-saving procedure for end-stage heart failure.
- Candidates face significant psychological challenges during the waiting period.
- Understanding stressors and coping mechanisms is crucial for patient support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify perceived stressors in heart transplant candidates.
- To examine the coping strategies employed by these patients.
- To assess changes in stress and coping over a 12-month period post-listing.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design.
- Assessment of perceived stressors and coping strategies at multiple time points (listing, 3, 6, 9, 12 months).
- Quantitative analysis of stress scores and coping mechanism usage/effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Relatively low mean stress scores were reported across all assessment times.
- Primary stressors included terminal illness, need for transplant, family worry, and hospitalization.
- Effective coping strategies included positive thinking, maintaining normalcy, humor, prayer, and distraction.
- No significant changes in coping use or effectiveness were observed over time.
Conclusions:
- Heart transplant candidates perceive manageable stress levels.
- Patients utilize a range of effective coping strategies consistently.
- Interventions could focus on reinforcing existing positive coping mechanisms.
Abstract:
This study examined heart transplant candidates' perceived stressors and coping strategies at the time of placement on the waiting list and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months following. Mean stress scores were relatively low at each assessment time. The 4 greatest stressors were (1) having a terminal disease, (2) needing a heart transplant, (3) worrying family members, and (4) undergoing prolonged hospitalization. Total stress scores indicated that candidates were effectively using a moderate number of coping strategies, the 5 most frequently used ones being thinking positively, trying to keep life normal, keeping a sense of humor, praying or trusting in God, and trying to distract oneself. The 5 most effective coping mechanisms were thinking positively, keeping a sense of humor, thinking of good things, praying or trusting in God, and trying to keep life normal. No significant differences were seen in coping use or effectiveness over time.