The Relationship Between Coping Strategies and Type D Personality in Non Late Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma Survivors

BackgroundOwing to the high recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma, coping with the disease in the survival period can be challenging. The aims of this study were to explore the association between coping strategies and personality and to identify factors associated with coping strategies.MethodsA cross-sectional correlated design was used and patients were recruited by convenience sampling from wards and outpatient departments at a medical center in Taipei. A set of structured questionnaires was used to collect data including patients’ demographic and disease information, Symptom Distress Scale, Type D Scale-14 and the brief COPE scale. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and generalized estimating equations.ResultsEmotion-focused strategies were the most frequently used strategies. Among the 163 participants, 31 patients had type D personality (19%) and tended not to use emotion-focused strategies. Factors associated with patients using emotion-focused strategies included female gender, non-type D personality, younger age, higher level of education, Christian/Catholic, longer duration as HBV carrier, and lower level of symptom distress. Factors associated with patients using problem-focused strategies included younger age, higher level of education, longer duration as HBV carrier, and lower level of symptom distress. Younger age was also associated with patients using malfunction strategies.ConclusionsThis study showed that different factors were associated with the three types of coping strategies. We recommend that patients be screened for type D personality, so that those with higher levels of distress when managing their symptoms can be helped to have a positive coping process. Health care providers should also proactively take care of younger patients with mal-adaptation.