Comparison of Coping Styles and Social Support among Patients of Private and Public Hospitals

Background and Objectives: ocial support on the outcomes of medical treatment has the potential to reduce the cost of medical care. The purpose of this study was to compare coping styles and social support among patients in private and public hospitals in Kerman city, the capital of Kerman province (Southern Iran). Methods: A sample of 101 patients hospitalized in private hospitals and 101 patients admitted to public hospitals were randomly selected. The coping strategies scale of the Moos and Billings and the social support scale of Stewart and Sherbourne were used as the study tools. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Findings: No significant difference was observed between patients of public and private hospitals in terms of the problem-focused coping style. Patients of public hospitals showed significantly higher emotion-focused coping style. While no difference between the patients in the public and private hospitals in the variables such as tangible support, emotional support, affections and positive social interaction was observed, the patients in the private hospitals felt more information support than those in the public hospitals. Conclusions: Educating patients on appropriate coping styles and informing the families and hospital staff on the importance of social support, can help promote the coping style in the patients