Promoción de actitudes y estrategias para el afrontamiento de la diabetes mellitus y la hipertensión arterial en un grupo de enfermos crónicos de la ciudad de Bucaramanga

Abstract

This study sought to determine the effects of a program aimed at developing attitudes and emotional and practical coping strategies toward diabethes mellitus and arterial hypertension in a group of chronic hospitalized patients. The study followed Rolland´s Psychosocial Chronic Illness Model, was implemented during 38 weeks and used a pre-experimental design with measures before and after treatment. 65 patients, with ages between 38 and 87, participated in this study. In the first phase, emotional and practical coping strategies were developed. In the second phase, beliefs about illness were debated with patients. Student´s t test showed statistically significant values, both for emotional and practical skills, as well as for beliefs. These results suggest that the program was effective, although they should be taken cautiously due to the design used.