Gender differences in coping and anxiety in patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery in Taiwan

Tung, Heng-Hsin; Hunter, Anita; Wei, Jeng; Chang, Chung-Yi

BACKGROUND: Greater use of coping strategies and lower anxiety levels may be related to positive outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery; however, the relationship between them, including by gender, has not been examined in Taiwan. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey research design and purposive sampling were used in this study, for which 50 men and 50 women were recruited from a medical center in northern Taiwan. RESULTS: After coronary artery bypass graft surgery, both male and female patients used more problem-focused coping strategies than emotion-focused coping strategies. In comparison with men, women tended to use more blaming of self and had slightly higher scores on both state and trait anxiety. CONCLUSION: Clinicians need to be aware that the use of appropriate coping strategies can reduce patient anxiety, a finding that needs to be considered when designing effective interventions for these patients.