ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate coping strategies used by patients with chronic and/or complex wounds treated in an outpatient wound clinic. METHODS: Coping strategies were assessed using the Utrecht Coping List (UCL). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess the patient's cognitive functioning. Fifty patients were selected for this study. The wound etiologies studied were: diabetic foot ulcers, lower extremity ulcers, surgical wounds, trauma wounds, and pressure ulcers. RESULTS: Scores on the coping measure for men and women differed significantly from the control groups. It was also found that each wound etiology showed a preference toward different coping strategies. Furthermore, 28% of the studied group had a lowered score on the MMSE, indicating possible cognitive impairments. CONCLUSION: There might be an association between wound etiology and the coping strategy that is preferred; this knowledge could be used to guide treatment strategies used by clinicians. Further research could focus on the effects of coping strategies on wound healing rates .
