Subjective and objective health of patients with leukaemia after bone marrow transplantation – psychological predictors

Abstract

Background: The theoretical base of researches is Helena Wrona-Polanska’s Functional Model of Health (FMH Wrona-Polańska 2003), in which health is a function of creative coping with stress. In this model, psychological predictors of health were: level of stress, coping with stress and personal resources. A study on the psychological predictors of subjective and objective health of patients after BMT is presented. 141 patients after BMT - 80 males and 61 females – at the Hematology Clinic of Jagiellonian University of Collegium Medicum, were studied clinically. Methods: Examined methods were the questionnaires: Spielberger `s STAI, Endler`s , Parker`s CISS and CHIP, Antonovsky`s SOC-29, Rosenberg`s self-esteem scales. Subjective health was examined on the 10-point rating scale of sense of health and sense of calm. Objective health was examined by physician on the 10-point rating scale. Findings: There is a clear difference between subjective and objective level of health. Subjective health depends on objective health, coping strategies with stress and personal resources. Objective health depends on patient`s collaboration with therapeutic team, instrumental coping strategies with stress and temporal factor since transplantation. Discussion: The basis of health promotion of persons after BMT is development effective coping with stress and increasing personal resources and patients activity. Key words: subjective health, objective health, stress, coping, resources