relationship between psychological wellbeing and coping strategies of schizophrenic's relatives

Relatives have become the most important caregivers for major psychiatric disorders because of the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric patients in recent decades, the relatives' well-being and mental health may become seriously impaired. The aim of this Study is to determine the relationship between psychological well-being and coping strategies of schizophrenic's relatives. Setting: This study was carried out at psychiatric outpatient clinics of Shebin Elkom teaching hospital at Menoufia City and Tanta psychiatric mental health hospital at Tanta City. All schizophrenic's relatives who came to the outpatient clinic for follow up of their patients were selected during the period of data collection to be included in this study [100]. Tools: Tool [1] the Coping Process Scale Tool [2] Burden Interviews Scale. The results revealed that; There was significant correlation between duration of caregiving and feeling burden of the relatives this means when the duration of caregiving increase the relative feeling of burden will increase. There is significant relation between mental disengagement as Emotion-focused coping and burden this means when the relative use mental disengagement as emotion-focused coping the level of burden will increase. The most coping strategies used was wishful thinking [100%] followed by exert of restrain [97%] and 90% for positive re interpretation. There was negative non significant relation between coping strategies and burden. It means that when coping increase the burden will decrease. the need of supporting programs addressed to families to establish a valid doctor-patient relationship with these patients both during consultation with psychiatrists. Stress management techniques can be helpful to relief the relative's tension. Whereas Caregivers must have a ready knowledge and access to emergency wards, mobile crisis units, and hotlines in case of emergency this can decrease relative's tension

Impact of an experiential learning program on developing communication skills of chronic hospitalized schizophrenic patients

The sample consisted of 40 chronic hospitalized schizophrenic patients selected from El-Nil Sanatorium for Mental Health. Data were collected by interviewing patients individually. The instrument which utilized during the interview was an Observation Rating Scale. This was developed by the investigators and consisted of 2 subscales. The first subscale was for verbal communication behaviors [23 items]. The second subscale was constructed for non-verbal communication behaviors [17 items] in a 5-point likert format. It was used twice, before and after participation in the program. The results indicated a significant improvement in communication abilities of the experimental group more than the control group. It is recommended that psychiatric nurses should structure their interaction with schizophrenic patients in a way that provides frequent opportunities for them to talk and communicate with continuous monitoring of patients' communication progress at frequent regular intervals

Patients' strategies to manage stressors related to their chronic illness

The studied sample consisted of 100 patients; all the available arthritic, diabetic and hypertensive patients. A structured interview was used for data collection utilizing the modified illness, stressors scale and a modified coping scale. The conclusion of the study indicated that all the studied groups have perceived different stressors related to their illness and used different coping strategies. A major implication suggested by this study is the need for continuous nursing efforts to provide services as well as alternatives that enable chronic ill patients to stay active as long as possible and to improve the quality of the participation in support groups assist patients and their families and counseling is recommended to help them to cope with their stressors