Relationship Between Coping Styles and Blood Pressure in the Staff of Covid-19 Wards of Hospitals of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences During 2020 - 2021

Abstract

Background: With the global outbreak of Covid-19 at the beginning of 2020, the staff of hospitals involved in the care for the Covid-19 patients underwent great physical and psychological pressure. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the correlation between coping styles and blood pressure in the staff of Covid-19 centers during 2020 - 2021. Methods: A total of 278 medical staff of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences who were serving in the Covid-19 wards during 2020 - 2021 were recruited in this cross-sectional correlational study. The ways of coping questionnaire (Lazarus and Folkman, 1985) was used to assess the coping strategies. The blood pressure of the personnel was measured after three consecutive shifts. Data were analyzed by SPSS-20 software using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Among the coping styles used by the staff, the highest score (17.9 ± 4.4) was reported for planful problem-solving. The results showed a significant and positive correlation between emotion-oriented coping styles and blood pressure, while problem-oriented coping styles had a negative correlation with blood pressure. Conclusions: Emotion-oriented coping styles have a positive and significant correlation and problem-oriented coping styles have a negative and significant correlation with the increased blood pressure of employees. The relationship between coping styles in medical staff in different wards and the application of coping styles in medical assistants in different educational levels and specialties are suggested to be evaluated.