Psychological distress and coping styles among patients with heart failure

Abstract

Psychological distress is a prevalent phenomenon among patients suffering from heart failure (HF). Coping styles may alleviate psychological distress in these patients. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Jordanian HF patients related to coping styles for psychological distress. In this phenomenological descriptive study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 participants with HF. The main theme identified was "finding ways to cope with psychological distress," which included three subthemes from the analysis of interviews: faith and spiritual beliefs help to ease suffering, being grateful for family presence, and distraction techniques. The findings revealed that coping styles could reduce psychological distress in patients with HF. It is recommended that healthcare providers understand patients' coping processes and support HF patients experiencing psychological distress. Furthermore, this study highlights the necessity for interventions that could help individuals with HF to cope more effectively with psychological distress.