Relationships among Coping, Social Support, Perceived Self-efficacy and Health Related-Quality of Life in First-Time Stroke Patients

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to investigate relationships among coping, social support, perceived self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life in the first-time stroke patients. One hundred and thirty-two stroke patients were recruited from the outpatient units of Police General Hospital, and Prasat Neurological Institute. Samples were recruited by using proposed criteria. Research instrument was a set of questionnaires consisting of five parts: The Demographic Patients’ Data Form, Coping Strategies Questionnaire, Enrich Social Support Questionnaire, Self-efficacy Questionnaire, and Quality of Life Index-Stroke Version. Questionnaires were validated by 5 experts. Reliabilities were examined using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient obtained at .909, .833, .925, and .971, respectively. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation.

Results of the study revealed that the first-time stroke patients have a good level of health- related quality of life. Social support, coping and self-efficacy have significantly positively correlated with health related-quality of life at the levels of .01 (r = 0.511, 0.509, 0.437, respectively). Nurses should promote perceived self-efficacy and coping in patients in order to overcome difficulties and illness. Nurses should also develop self care program further from this study in order to create quality of life for the patients.