Stress management style and the quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by progressive limitation of airflow through the airways. It greatly affects the quality of life of patients and their way of coping with stress. The chronic nature of the disorder causes limitations in physical fitness, often forces the patients to change their job, and reduces their social contact, which results in lowering of their quality of life.

Aim of the study
To get to know the relationship between the ways of coping with stress and the quality of life in patients with COPD.

Material and methods
The study included a total of 100 patients with diagnosed COPD. The method used in the study was a diagnostic survey. In order to col-lect the data, the authors’ survey questionnaire was used as well as standardised tools, i.e. Mini-COPE and WHOQOL-BREF.

Results
Among patients with COPD the dominating strategies were seeking emotional and instrumental support as well as strategies included in the active ways of coping with stress, i.e. active coping and positive revaluation. Most patients with COPD assessed the overall quality of their lives at an average level.

Conclusions
Patients with COPD most often presented with positive strategies of stress management. The surveyed persons assessed the quality of their lives at a low level. Those who did better with the disease and chose strategies of active coping with stress assessed the quality of their lives at a higher level. The patients with advanced disease assessed the quality of their lives at a lower level and chose avoidance strategies more often.