Spousal coping during the surgical wait.

The purpose of this study was to identify the coping strategies used by a patient's spouse and the perceived effectiveness of these coping strategies while waiting during a loved one's surgery. Forty spouses, male and female (age 25 to 65 years), waiting during a patient's surgery completed a demographic questionnaire and the Jalowiec Coping Scale. Mean scores of the styles and individual strategies were calculated and ranked in descending order. The optimistic coping strategy of "tried to think positively" was used most often by the subjects. The supportant coping strategy of "prayed or put trust in God" was ranked as the most effective strategy. The nurse who instructs the patient regarding their surgery should also prepare the spouse for the surgical wait. Recommending coping strategies to spouses may be a component of stress inoculation.