INFLUENCE OF HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE ON COPING STRATEGIES AMONG PERSONS LIVING WITH SICKLE CELL DISORDER IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Sickle cell disorder (SCD) has been identified as a monogenetic disease that is lifelong and characterized by recurrent ill-health, progressive organ damage, and shortened life-span. SCD has been shown to be related to health-related quality of life and as such, it is assumed that knowledge about its influence on coping strategies among people living with the disorder may be beneficial in planning therapeutic strategies that would assure coping rather than just pain alleviation. This research, thus, examined the influence of health-related quality of life on coping strategies among persons living with sickle cell disorder. Cross-sectional survey research design was adopted for this study and the purposive sampling method was used to engage a total of 74 SCD patients in a sickle cell centre in Nigeria in this study. Copies of a questionnaire comprising of Short Form 12 items Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-12) was used to evaluate health related quality of life while coping strategies was measured using the Brief COPE scale which was developed by Carver (1997). Participants for the study comprised of 39(52.7%) females while 35(47.3%) were males. Participants age ranges from 16 to 63 and their mean age is 34.02 years. Result of data analysis using the independent samples’ t-test showed that health related quality of life had significant influence on adaptive coping strategy [t (72) = 3.52; P<.05].  However, health related quality of life had no significant influence on maladaptive coping strategy [t (72) = 1.73; P>.05]. It is concluded that people living with SCD should always be encouraged to be optimistic and positive in their thoughts so that they could employ adaptive coping strategy which would, in-turn, help them to adapt and adjust better with the challenges that accompany their health condition. Also, therapeutic interventions for SCD patients should consider humor and religious beliefs in developing cognitive re-orientation strategies for the patients.   Keywords: Coping Strategies, Sickle Cell Disorder, Health Related Quality of Life, Sickle Cell Patients, Nigeria.