Stress in socio-sanitary hospitals: Main iatrogenic factors in patients with chronic respiratory disease

The study of stress during hospitalization has been mainly focused on acute patients in general hospitals; hardly any attention has been paid to chronic patients staying in socio-sanitary hospitals. Objective: study the presence of stress and coping styles in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in public socio-sanitary hospitals. Method: 51 patients with COPD were assessed at the Joan March Hospital (Balearic Islands) by means of the Hospital Stress Rating Scale, the Dyspnea Scale (MRC) and a coping styles list. Results: patients stress levels are lower than those of patients staying at general hospitals, independently of COPD severity (p > .05). Patients with mild dyspnea report high levels of stress (p < .05). Avoidant coping strategies are the most prevalent in COPD patients. Conclusions: the iatrogenic potential of hospitalization depends on the type of patient and the institution itself. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)