Browsing by Subject "Sense of coherence"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Association between sense of coherence and health-related quality of life among primary care patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain
    (Springer Nature, 2013-12-26) Chumbler, Neale R.; Kroenke, Kurt; Outcalt, Samantha; Bair, Matthew J.; Krebs, Erin; Wu, Jingwei; Yu, Zhangsheng; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: Sense of Coherence (SOC) is a measure of an individual's capacity to use various coping mechanisms and resources when faced with a stressor. Chronic pain is one of the most prevalent and disabling conditions in clinical practice. This study examines the extent to which a strong SOC is associated with less pain and better health related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with chronic pain. Methods: We analyzed data from the Stepped Care to Optimize Pain care Effectiveness (SCOPE) trial which enrolled 250 patients with persistent (3 months or longer) musculoskeletal pain who were receiving care in an United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care clinic. The abbreviated three-item SOC scale was used to measure personal coping capability. Participants were categorized into Strong SOC (score 0-1) and Weak SOC (score 2-6). The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) was used to assess the severity and disability associated with pain. Additionally, pain self-efficacy (ASES) and catastrophizing (CSQ) were assessed. HRQoL was assessed with the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) social functioning, vitality, and general health subscales. Multiple linear regression models were performed to examine whether SOC was independently associated with pain-specific and HRQoL outcomes, after adjusting for sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, medical comorbidities and major depression. Results: Of the 250 study patients, 61% had a strong SOC whereas 39% had a weak SOC. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that a strong SOC was significantly associated with better general health, vitality, social functioning and pain self-efficacy as well as less pain catastrophizing. These significant findings were partially attenuated, but remained statistically significant, after controlling for major depression. SOC was not significantly associated with pain severity or pain disability. Conclusions: A strong SOC is associated with better HRQoL and self-efficacy as well as less catastrophizing in patients with chronic pain. SOC may be an important coping mechanism (strategy) for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
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    Meaning in Life and the Acceptance of Cancer: A Systematic Review
    (MDPI, 2022-05-03) Quinto, Rossella Mattea; De Vincenzo, Francesco; Campitiello, Laura; Innamorati, Marco; Secinti, Ekin; Iani, Luca; Psychology, School of Science
    Meaning in life and acceptance of cancer are critical for patients to adjust to a cancer diagnosis and to improve psychological wellbeing. Little is known about the relationship between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer. This study provides a systematic review of the associations between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer in cancer patients. CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS databases were searched until 15 March 2021. Studies were included if they quantitatively examined the association between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer in adult cancer patients/survivors and if they were published in peer-reviewed journals or in books. The study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Of the 4907 records identified through database searches, only 3 studies quantitatively examined the associations between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer. The total sample involved 464 women with cancer. All three studies reported positive correlations between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer (ranging from r = 0.19 to r = 0.38), whereas meaning in life did not predict the acceptance of cancer. Overall, the meaning in life–acceptance relationship has not been sufficiently investigated, though it has relevant theoretical and clinical implications for coping with cancer. High-quality studies are needed to better understand the relationship between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer.
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    The Story of Medicine: From Paternalism to Partnership
    (2013-01-09) Marks, Jennifer Lynn; Parrish-Sprowl, John; Sheeler, Kristina K. Horn; Karnick, Kristine Brunovska, 1958-
    Physicians were interviewed and asked about their perspectives on communicating with patients, media, and the ways in which the biomedical and biopsychosocial models function in the practice of medicine. Fisher’s Narrative Paradigm was the primary critical method applied to themes that emerged from the interviews. Those emergent themes included the importance of a team approach to patient care; perspectives on physicians as bad communicators; and successful communication strategies when talking to patients. Physicians rely on nurses and other support staff, but the most important partnership is that between the physician and patient. Narrative fidelity and probability are satisfied by strategies physicians use in communicating with patients: using understandable language when talking to patients; engaging in nonverbal tactics of sitting down with patients, making eye contact with patients, and making appropriate physical contact with them in the form of a handshake or a light touch on the arm. Physicians are frustrated by media’s reporting of preliminary study results that omit details as well as media’s fostering of expectations for quick diagnostic processes and magical cures within the public. Furthermore, physicians see the biomedical and biopsychosocial models becoming increasingly interdependent in the practice of medicine, which carries the story of contemporary medicine further into the realm of partnership, revealing its humanity as well as its fading paternalism.