• Belgüzar Kara and Cengiz Han Açıkel.
• Department of Internal Medicine Nursing, School of Nursing, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. sb.kara@mynet.com
• J Clin Nurs. 2012 Apr 1;21(7-8):983-93.

Aim And ObjectiveTo describe coping strategies used and determine the influence of demographic/health-related variables and perceived social support to the prediction of coping strategies in patients with physical disabilities.BackgroundThe period of psychosocial adaptation following a physical disability is very stressful. The use of effective coping strategies may be helpful in adapting to disability. However, no information is available about the coping strategies used by Turkish patients with physical disability.DesignThe study was designed as a cross-sectional survey. The data were obtained from 51 patients with physical disability in a rehabilitation centre in Ankara, Turkey between May 2004-September 2005.MethodsData were collected using a questionnaire form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Coping Strategy Indicator. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis test, chi-square test, Pearson's correlation coefficients and stepwise multivariate regression analysis were conducted.ResultsThe most frequently used coping strategy was problem-solving, followed by avoidance coping and seeking social support. Significant predictors of overall coping strategies were age, financial status, the caregiver's presence and perceived social support, after controlling for specific variables.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that patients who were older and had a caregiver were more likely to use problem-solving strategy. Seeking social support was more common among patients who had a caregiver and those with more perceived support from friends, whereas patients who had financial difficulties used more avoidance coping.Relevance To Clinical PracticeBetter understanding the coping strategies used by individuals with physical disabilities and factors affecting coping is provide interventions that reduce the stress and support their adaptation. Nurses should be aware of the factors that affect to coping strategies used to deal with stress.© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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