A Descriptive Study to Assess the Coping Strategies among Elderly Patients with Heart Failure in a Selected Private Hospital, Malaysia

摘要

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2013) reports that there are about 1.5 million people in the United States have heart failure and half of them who develop heart failure die within 5 years of diagnosis [1]. The objective of this study is to assess the coping strategies among elderly patients with heart failure in a private hospital, Malaysia. The theoretical framework used is Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model. Methods: A descriptive design was used. Convenient sampling technique was used to select 135 elderly participants with heart failure. Coping strategies among the elderly patients with heart failure were determined by using Brief COPE questionnaire. The results were analyzed by using Predictive Analytics Software (PASW) version 18 and presented in tables and figures. Results: The results indicated that the most frequently used coping strategies were acceptance, using emotional support, religion, positive reframing, using instrumental support, planning, and active coping. Whereas, the less frequently used coping strategies were self-distraction, venting, behavioral disengagement, denial, self-blame, humor, and substance use being used least frequently. Conclusion: Elderly patients with heart failure used adaptive coping strategies and emotion-focused coping strategies to cope with the illness in this study.