A Study to Assess the Stress and Coping in Parents of Children, with Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease Posted for Surgical Intervention

Aim of the study: To assess the stress and coping in parents of children with cyanotic congenital heart disease posted for surgical intervention Objectives: To assess the stress and coping in parents of children, with cyanotic congenital heart disease.

Materials and methods: A descriptive, cross sectional study design was used to assess the stress and coping in parents of children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD). In the present study of 100 parents' i.e. 50 fathers and 50 mothers of 50 children (birth-5years), with CCHD posted for surgical intervention within two to three days, admitted in cardiology, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery wards of AIIMS hospital. Parental stress assessment questionnaire and CHIP were used to assess the parental stress and coping. Data from parents was collected by self report method using interview method. Descriptive statistics used included percentage and frequency. SPSS 17.0 was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Majority of the parents (60-90%) were stressed due to the congenital cyanotic heart disease of the child and 90% of parents used Coping pattern I, i.e. maintaining family integration, cooperation, and an optimistic definition as a measure to cope with stress.