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Coping of Chronically-Ill Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparison between Four Groups

Author

Listed:
  • Mateusz Łuc

    (Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Marcin Pawłowski

    (Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Arkadiusz Jaworski

    (Students Research Association, Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Karolina Fila-Witecka

    (Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Dorota Szcześniak

    (Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Hanna Augustyniak-Bartosik

    (Dialysis Unit, Department of Nephrology and Transplantology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Dorota Zielińska

    (Department of Nephrology and Transplantology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Aleksandra Stefaniak

    (Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Anna Pokryszko-Dragan

    (Department of Neurology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Justyna Chojdak-Łukasiewicz

    (Department of Neurology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Magdalena Krajewska

    (Dialysis Unit, Department of Nephrology and Transplantology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Tomasz Pawłowski

    (Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Jacek C. Szepietowski

    (Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Joanna Rymaszewska

    (Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland)

Abstract

In many countries, the COVID-19 pandemic led to healthcare reorganization limiting access to diagnostic or therapeutic procedures for chronically-ill patients. In this article, we describe the psychological consequences and coping strategies of several groups of chronically-ill patients. During the cross-sectional survey conducted in 2020, we enrolled 398 patients with four different chronic conditions (psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and patients who have undergone a kidney transplant or received dialysis). The study sample was examined regarding the experienced stress levels (Perceived Stress Scale) and coping strategies (Brief-COPE). All four groups of patients most commonly declared using problem-focused coping strategies and least commonly reported the use of avoidant coping. Higher levels of perceived stress strongly correlated with self-blaming. The participants who declared previous psychiatric treatment or psychotherapy were more likely to use self-blaming, behavioral disengagement, substance use, and avoidant coping, while previous psychotherapy additionally correlated with emotion-focused coping. Group comparison identifies patients with a chronic neurological disease, such as multiple sclerosis, at higher risk of a less beneficial coping profile than kidney transplant recipients. Further focus on education and early interventions in at-risk individuals is needed, and widely targeted mental health programs are indicated in order to improve the mental health of patients suffering from chronic diseases.

Suggested Citation

  • Mateusz Łuc & Marcin Pawłowski & Arkadiusz Jaworski & Karolina Fila-Witecka & Dorota Szcześniak & Hanna Augustyniak-Bartosik & Dorota Zielińska & Aleksandra Stefaniak & Anna Pokryszko-Dragan & Justyna, 2023. "Coping of Chronically-Ill Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparison between Four Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-14, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:6:p:4814-:d:1091915
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    References listed on IDEAS

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