The effect of the tidal model based psychiatric nursing approach on meaning in life and coping mechanisms among adults with physical disabilities: a acti̇on research

Objective: Evaluate the impact of the psychiatric nursing approach based on the Tidal Model on the meaning of life and coping levels in physically handicapped adult people. Method: The study is in a qualitatively weighted emancipatory action research design.The sample of the study comprised ten people who were enrolled in Antalya Physically Handicapped Solidarity Association.In the sampling the criterion sampling method which is among purposeful sampling methods, was used.First of all a semi-structured interview form and personal interview regarding the impact of disability on life and the meaning of life, were conducted with the ten people aged 20 to 30 years who agreed to take part in the study.The Meaning and Purpose of Life Scale and the Style of Coping with Stress Scale were applied to them. In the care application stage, the psychiatric nursing approach based on the Tidal Model was applied individually and then the participants' meaning of life and coping levels were reevaluated via the personal interview and scales. Results: Concerning the preliminary qualitative and final qualitative data of the study; five main themes were specified as situations making the life meaningful in the experience ocean, storm/shipwrecking/pirate attack in the experience ocean, life jacket in the experience ocean, maintenance work in the ship in the experience ocean and routes in the experience ocean.Following the psychiatric nursing approach based on the Tidal Model, there was an increase in the meaning and purpose of life and coping with stress scores of the physically handicapped adult people. Conclusion: As a result of the study the psychiatric nursing approach based on the Tidal Model positively affected the meaning and purpose of life and coping with stress states of the physically handicapped adult people.It is recommended that the psychiatric nursing approach based on the Tidal Model continue to be used in the research and applications in physically handicapped people.