title: Uncertainty, coping, and distress following myocardial infarction: transition from hospital to home.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of uncertainty in illness and use of coping methods on emotional distress and recovery following myocardial infarction. A longitudinal exploratory design with measures obtained at three times was used; multiple regression was used to analyze the data. Uncertainty explained a significant amount of the variance in emotional distress prior to hospital discharge (21%), and 1 (16%) and 4 (26%) weeks after discharge. Patients reporting greater uncertainty also reported more emotional distress. One week after discharge, coping behaviors significantly added to the variance explained in distress (27%). Greater use of emotive coping behaviors was associated with higher levels of emotional distress and accounted for the majority of the variance explained by coping behaviors (23%). The findings are discussed in terms of the nature of uncertainty in health care and future model development.
authors: College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536-0232.
authors: N J
authors: NJ
authors: Christman
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: McConnell
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Pfeiffer
authors: K K
authors: KK
authors: Webster
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Schmitt
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ries
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*