Coping Patterns and Emotional Distress in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Who Are Undergoing Lung Transplant Evaluation. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Soyseth, Torunn S.; Dew, Mary Amanda; Lund, May Brit; Haugstad, Gro Killi; Soyseth, Vidar; Malt, Ulrik Fredrik
• Is Part Of: Progress in transplantation. Volume 30:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 228
• Page End: 234
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: COPD -- lung transplant candidates -- emotional distress -- ways of coping -- well-being; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Periodicals; Transplantation; Organ Procurement; Tissue Donors; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 362.1783
• DOI: 10.1177/1526924820933817
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-9248

Abstract

Objectives: Living with severe lung disease like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a very stressful situation. The way patients cope may impact their symptoms of anxiety and depression and physical function as well. We studied how ways of coping are associated with levels of emotional distress and lung function in patients with COPD being evaluated for lung transplantation. Methods: Sixty-five (mean age 57 years, 46% females) patients completed the General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ-30) assessing emotional distress and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Measurements of lung function and 6-minute walk test were included. Results: Seventeen (26%) patients had elevated emotional distress. Logistic regression of chronic GHQ score with gender, age, body mass index, lung function, and coping scales as covariates showed that escape avoidance and self-controlling coping and forced vital lung capacity were significantly associated with high emotional distress. Odds ratio of emotional distress increased with 5.2 per tertile ( P = .011) in escape avoidance coping score. Moreover, we revealed that emotionally distressed patients cope with their current situation by refusing to believe the current situation and taking their distress out on other people. Conclusion: Among patients with COPD, a high level of emotional distress was uniquely associated with escape-avoidance coping and lung function. Future work should ascertain whether coping style predicts distress or whether distress increases the use of escape-avoidance coping. Nevertheless, our findings indicate that if either element is present, health care professionals should be attentive to the need for interventions to improve patients' well-being.