Stress levels and coping methods with stress in patients with chronic itching applied to dermatology outpatient clinics

This study was conducted descriptively to evaluate the stress levels and coping methods with stress in patients with chronic itching problem who applied to dermatology outpatient clinics. The study was carried out with patients who applied todermatology outpatient clinicsat Yozgat Bozok University Research and Application Hospital, Yozgat State Hospital and Sorgun State Hospital with chronic itching complaint between the dates of 22.02.2016-15.07.2016 (n: 125). Data were collected with Patient Introductory Form, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Styles of Coping with Stress Scale (SCSS). Independent samples t test, One Way ANOVA, Kruskall-Wallis Analysis and Pearson Correlation coefficient were used for statistical data analysis. Mean PSS score of the patients was 29.71±7.22, while it was found that patients lived moderate level of stress, mean PSS score of females was higher than of males and the submissive approach score increased as the PSS score increased (p<0.05). Also it was found that PSS score was high in patients living severe itching (≥7 points) (p<0.05). In the sub-dimensions of SCSS, it was determined that males had higher score of safe approach to himself compared to female patients, while females had higher score of submissive approach than males (p<0.05). Score of PSS was found to be higher in patients living severe itching (≥7 points) (p˂0.05). Patients who were constantly itching had higher score of optimistic approach (p˂0.05). Patients who had evening itching had higher score of social support search compared to the other groups (p˂0.05). It was determined that as the PSS score increased, submissive approach score also increased (p<0.05) and as the duration of the disease increased, social support search score decreased (p<0.05). Consequently, the stress level of patients with chronic itching problem who applied to dermatology outpatient clinics was determined to be "moderate" and they used passive coping methods in coping with stress. It was determined that female patients perceived much more stress than males and used emotional/passive coping strategies while males used problem-related/active methods for coping with stress. There was a significant relation between stress perception and coping ways with the duration, severity and type of itching, the time when itching was most lived intense, medicine for itching while counselling and giving education may be recommended for the adoption of active styles in dealing with stress to the patients at risk. Keywords: Itching, Stress, Coping with Stress, Nursing