The role of perceived control in the perception of breathlessness severity in heart failure

• Main Author: Hyman, James Dorset
• Published: University of Hull 2011
• Subjects: 616.129; Clinical psychology
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.550433

Coping is acknowledged to be an important factor in the process of adjustment to illness, and which has consistently been related to outcomes in chronic health conditions such as heart failure (HF). Despite this, to date coping has been poorly conceptualised which has limited the clarity and usefulness of research findings. A systematic review was conducted to examine the relationship between ways of coping, and dimensions of psychological wellbeing as important health outcomes in the HF population. Electronic databases (CINAHL, Medline, PsychINFO, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched and articles selected based on systematic search, inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sixteen studies were included in the review utilising a variety of designs and measures. Study findings suggested that coping by ignoring, minimising or denying HF is related to poorer outcomes of psychological wellbeing. However, more illness focused ways of coping did not consistently relate to better outcomes. Consistent with research in other populations, the conceptualisation of coping in the reviewed studies was inconsistent. It is argued that coping should be considered within a wider framework of transition and adjustment to more meaningfully examine HF patients‟ experience following diagnosis and inform more appropriate psychological support strategies.