Coping among Patients with Physical Chronic Illnesses in Pakistani Sample: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Chronic conditions can cause ongoing physical and psychological difficulties with which individuals must deal by employing various coping processes to cope with stress and manage their own well-being. This review systematically examined the literature on coping strategies among individuals living with chronic physical conditions in Pakistan. This systematic review includes commonly used coping strategies and their relationship with social support, psychological wellbeing, and mental health. The relevant research articles for this review were searched for in databases such as PubMed, PJSCP, EMBASE, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Willey online library, and PsycINFO. A total of eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies utilized standardized measures including the Brief COPE Inventory to evaluate coping style. This finding showed that coping strategies has significant relationship in dealing with stressors related to the chronic physical and psychological health issues. The most frequently used coping strategies are religious coping, active, and positive reframing. Contrary to that person who inject drugs (PWIDs) on daily basis and diagnosed with HIV + does not use adaptive as well as maladaptive coping.  The active and problem focused coping is also frequently used among the patients of chronic liver diseases. This review showed that the adequate mechanisms of coping may enhance the functioning of a person who is facing chronic illness. The better understanding of coping mechanisms in health care system of Pakistan may provide the insight to the health professionals to aware the patients about useful problem focused coping strategies.