Coping strategies in cancer patients from a public hospital. Corrientes year 2022

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer coping strategies represent a mediating process in the face of the repercussions of the disease. Objective: Identify coping strategies in cancer patients attending a public hospital in the city of Corrientes in the year 2022. Methodology: Descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional, observational study. The population were cancer patients who attended a public hospital. For the data collection, a questionnaire of coping modes was used, developed by Lazarus and Folkman, revised, adapted and modified version, composed of 67 items, associated with the different coping strategies. Results: The sample was made up of 45 patients with an average age of 52; 78% of the female sex, mostly housewives, 64%; 69% married. Levels obtained from the strategies - focused on the problem - Low Level of application of confrontation (56%) and Medium Level of Distancing (51%). -In the strategies focused on emotion- Medium level of application, positive reappraisal (67%) and Planning 60%, self-control (40%), followed by the search for social support (44%), acceptance of responsibility (44%), flight-avoidance (38%). Conclusions: The confrontation was the strategy that presented the most outstanding percentage in the low application level and the distancing the most frequent high level. It is essential to highlight the importance of identifying the coping strategy used by cancer patients since these emotional states directly influence health, be it physiological functioning, recognition of symptoms, the search for timely care