Coping Strategies of Parents with Chronic Ill Children Hospitalized in Educational Hospitals, Ahvaz-Iran

Background: The incidence of a child chronic disease causes high levels of stress and anxiety in the parents and caregivers. This study aimed to investigate the coping strategies of parents with chronic ill children who hospitalized in educational hospitals of Ahvaz -Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study conducted in two hospitals that affiliated to Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in 2016. The total number of respondents was 252 parents (150 mothers and 102 fathers) of 150 children with chronic disease that were selected using convenience sampling. Data collection tools were a self-administered demographic and clinical checklist and standard questionnaire Of Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation (CISS). Data analysis runs using SPSS version 22.0. Results: The results showed that the dominant strategies of parents who had a child with chronic disease were task-oriented (52.3%), and emotion-oriented (54%) strategies, respectively. The average score of problem- focused strategy in fathers was (53.67±11.1) and the average score of emotion- focused coping strategy in mothers was (53.33±10).Mothers were used emotion oriented and social diversion coping strategies significantly more than fathers. Child gender, child age, and having another ill child were significant variables in correlation with mother’s distraction; however family economic state was significant variable in correlation with social diversion (P<0.05). In fathers task- oriented coping strategies were in correlation with child age, disease duration, numbers of hospitalizations, education, job and having another ill child. Emotion oriented coping strategies was in correlation with father’s age and distraction was in in correlation with father’s job (P<0.05). Conclusion: To provide optimal care for families with chronic ill child, assessment of psychological needs and coping strategies of parents is necessary. Moreover, families with lower economic and educational level are prior for further attention.