Psychosocial Health Status of Patients Diagnosed with Chronic Illnesses in Jordan

Abstract

Background: The comorbidity between chronic physical conditions and psychosocial health consequences is becoming a research interest for researchers in the field. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychosocial health status of patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses in Jordan. Methods: A cross sectional survey using 806 patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses has been used to collect data in regards to depressive symptoms, psychological distress, coping, optimism, life satisfaction, and perceive social support. Results: 17.5% of the patients reported that they had moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and about 50% of them had high level of optimism and life satisfaction, moderate level of effectiveness of coping skills, psychological distress, and perceived social support from family, friends and others. There were significant association between patients' age and their scores on perception of social support from family, friends and others, life satisfaction, and psychological distress (p > 0.05). While, male and female patients were different in their depressive symptoms (t = −2.57, p = 0.01), perceived social support from others (t = −2.06, p = 0.04), and optimism (t = 2.29, p = 0.02). Also, patients had differences in their depressive symptoms, perceived social support from friends, others and friends, optimism, life satisfaction, and psychological distress related to their medical diagnoses (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with chronic illness are in need for psychological care, and periodic psychological screening is one step toward maintaining their psychological wellbeing.

Psychological Wellbeing of Saudi Patients Diagnosed with Chronic Illnesses

“…According to Chen and Chang (2012), individuals' adjustment to chronic illnesses and their evolved changes of lifestyles have a direct impact on the bio-psycho-social aspects of individual's health. In previous national study (Aboshaiqah, 2014) and similar studies in the Arab region (Al Abeiat et al, 2014;Khalil et al, 2012;Hamdan-Mansour, Farhan, Othman, & Yacob, 2010;Hamdan-Mansour & Marmash, 2007) individuals with chronic illnesses have reported number of psychological disturbances such as depression psychological distress and low self efficacy, and those with psychological problems have identified number of physical health problems such as headache low body pains and sleeping problems. Therefore, issues related to social wellbeing, psychological distress, depression and life satisfaction considered important in understanding the process of health-illness continuum, and have not been investigated adequately among the Saudi population.…”

“…The comorbidity of psychological problems with chronic illnesses called for more attention to psychological consequences and its impact on health care outcomes (Al Abeiat, Hamdan-Mansour, Ghannam, Azzeghaiby, & Dawood, 2014;Khalil, DarAwwad, Al-Gamal, & Hamdan-Mansour, 2012). Studies showed that psychological difficulties and psychological follow up care were associated with increased morbidity, mortality, expenditure of health services, and burden of caregivers (Dawani, Hamdan-Mansour, & Ajlouni, 2014;Sullivan, Simon, Spertus, & Russo, 2002;Wang et al, 2006).…”