Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to investigate the difference of in the level of pain, depression, and quality of life by coping strategy in the chronic arthritis patients.
METHOD
These data were collected by means of a self-reported questionnaire from 90 chronic arthritis patients undergoing treatment at a university hospital in Daegu city from June 10, 2000 to July 15, 2000. The instruments of study were coping strategy scale by Jeon(1985), pain scale by Lee and Song(1987), depression scale by Radloff(1977) and quality of life scale by Cho(1987). Data analysis was done by SPSS Win 10.0 program and Pearson correlation, t-test, Cronbach's-alpha were used.
RESULT
The results of this study were as follows: 1. The item mean score of pain for chronic arthritis patient was 6.54. The item mean score of depression for chronic arthritis patient was 2.18. The item mean score of quality of life for chronic arthritis patient was 5.69. 2. The chronic arthritis patients with problem-focused coping experienced pain higher than those with emotion-focused coping(t=o.400, p=o.o45). The chronic arthritis patients with emotion-focused coping experienced depression higher than those with problem-focused coping(t=-2.564, p=0.012). The chronic arthritis patients with problem-focused coping experienced quality of life higher than emotion-focused coping(t=-1.682, p=0.046).
CONCLUSION
In conclusion this study showed that any coping strategy can control the arthritis patient's problem. Therfore, The development of a coping strategy to reduce pain and depression and improve the quality of life in the chronic arthritis patient will be needed.

• Keywords: Chronic arthritis; Coping strategy; Pain; Depression; Quality of life