Predictors of perceived coping effectiveness in patients awaiting a heart transplant.
BACKGROUND
The wait for a heart transplant (HT) is a very stressful time for patients; how well they cope is essential to quality of life. However, in previous research, factors that contribute to perceived coping effectiveness in HT candidates have not been identified.


OBJECTIVE
To identify predictors of perceived coping effectiveness during the wait for a HT.


METHODS
Adult HT candidates (N = 535) completed a booklet on multiple factors impacting on quality of life (coping, stressors, symptoms, disability, social support, interventions), plus medical data were collected from charts. The Jalowiec Coping Scale assessed coping behavior. Hierarchical regression was used to analyze five sets of predictors (total = 34) based on Lazarus' theory of stress and coping.


RESULTS
The regression model explained 23% of the variance in perceived coping effectiveness. Coping styles explained the most variance, followed by coping resources, illness-related situation factors, stress appraisal, and person factors. Nine predictors were significant: less use of emotive, evasive, and fatalistic coping styles; feeling that the interventions of the HT team were very helpful; longer wait for the HT; foreseeing a favorable post-HT prognosis; more use of optimistic coping; urgent transplant status; and greater satisfaction with social support resources.


CONCLUSIONS
Coping styles, social support, HT wait, perceived prognosis, and transplant status contributed the most to predicting perceived coping effectiveness.
Jalowiec
Anne
A
Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. ajalowiec@yahoo.com
Grady
Kathleen L
KL
White-Williams
Connie
C
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000145:classification*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014850:Waiting Lists