Abstract:
This descriptive correlation research was designed to investigate the relationships
between selected factors such as level of education, social support and uncertainty
during glucose screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus to coping in pregnant
women. The study group consisted of pregnant women awaiting a glucose screening
test for GDM at Sanpasithiprasong Hospital, Ubonratchathani, Thailand, from May to
July, 2007. A total of 85 subjects were recruited by purposive sampling, and data were
elicited using demographic questionnaires, the social support scale, uncertainty during
glucose screening test for GDM questionnaires, and the Jalowiec coping scale.
The results revealed that social support had a statistically significant negative
correlation with uncertainty (r = -.251, p < .05) but level of education had no
correlation with uncertainty (r = -.153, p > .05). Also, there was no correlation
between uncertainty and confrontive coping behaviors, emotive coping behaviors, and
palliative coping behaviors (r = -.085, p > .05, r = .133, p > .05 and r = .124, p > .05
respectively).
The results of the study suggest that nurses who are the situational social support
should assess the level of education and the pregnant women’s uncertainty while
waiting for GDM screening in order to provide information and resources appropriate
to the cognitive capacities of the pregnant women, this could reduce uncertainty.
Furthermore, nurses should encourage a pregnant womon’s social network such as
husband or relatives to take part in caregiving and help them reduce uncertainty
during glucose screening test for GDM.