Introduction:

During the waiting period for kidney transplantation, the patient experiences negative emotional conditions. The coping strategies assumed by each individual can facilitate or delay the management of the situation.

Objective:

To identify the coping strategies developed by patients in the waiting list for kidney transplantation.

Material and Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 22 patients of both sexes aged 20 to 59 years at Abel Santamaría Cuadrado General Teaching Hospital in Pinar de Río between May and October, 2016. The questionnaire developed by Lazarus and Folkman was used to explore the coping strategies, as well as a semi-structured interview.

Results:

The most coping strategy developed by patients was planning. Disagreement and avoidance predominated in women and planning predominated in men. People aged 20 to 39 years and married people predominated in the planning strategy and the acceptance of reality and avoidance was developed in people aged 40-59 years; planning and confrontation predominated in married people during the first waiting period for the transplantation, whereas escape or avoidance were observed in the six-year period or more.

Conclusions:

Coping problem-focused strategies, particularly planning, predominated in patients in the waiting period for kidney transplantation.

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