The effect of training coping styles to deal with negative emotions on mental health of patients undergoing open heart surgery

Background and Purpose: Surgery is a stressful situation and this study aimed to evaluate the effect of negative emotions coping styles training on mental health of the patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Methods: This study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design on the patients undergoing open-heart surgery during a course of six months in Mazandaran Heart Center, Sari, Iran in 2014. In total, 30 patients were selected using non-random sampling method, who were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups (15 cases in each group). In the intervention group, seven training sessions of coping strategies (inc. stress and anger management, dealing with anxiety, and depression) were individually held for the participants. Data collection was performed, using General Health Questionnaire by Goldberg and Hiller (1970) and coping strategies scale by Lazarus and Folkman (1985), which showed the Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.84 and 0.80, respectively. Data analysis was performed, using ANOVA and Conflicting t. Results: In this study, the results of ANOVA were indicative of a significant difference between the groups, which suggest the positive effects of coping strategies on mental health (P=0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study negative emotions coping styles training had a positive impact on mental health of the patients, which was more significant in the intervention group.