Study on correlation between illness uncertainty and coping styles of parents of children with diabetes mellitus / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the level of illness uncertainty and coping styles of parents of children with diabetes mellitus and their relationship, and provide theoretical basis of clinical intervention. Methods Totally 155 patients of children with diabetes mellitus were investigated with General Information Questionnaire, Parents′ Perception of Uncertainty Scale (PPUS) and Coping Health Inventory for Parents (CHIP) to analyze the correlation between illness uncertainty of parents and its influencing factors and coping styles. Results The total score of illness uncertainty was 80.15±10.38 in parents of children with diabetes mellitus. There was significant difference in total uncertainty score in parents with different number of children, parent′s age, education degree, profession, economic conditions and locations (P < 0.05). Coping style, education and Parent′s age entered into the multiple linear regression equation of illness uncertainty, predicting 23.2% of total variation in illness uncertainty. The level of illness uncertainty was negatively associated with coping styles (P < 0.01). Conclusions The illness uncertainty was at higher levels in parents of children with diabetes mellitus. Clinical nurses should measure illness uncertainty of parents of children with diabetes mellitus and improve their coping capacity to reduce illness uncertainty, so as to provide better services of family and promote the quality of life for children .