Abstract

One of the remarkable effects of climate change in recent years is the increase of dust events which threatens many developing countries, including Iran. The present study was conducted to evaluate the coping appraisal of cardiovascular patients with the risk of dust exposure which was conducted on twenty-eight cardiovascular patients. Semi-structured interviews with open questions and inspiration from coping appraisal constructs were used to collect data. All data was captured and handwritten and analyzed using MAXQDA-io software and in-depth analysis. Using coping appraisal constructs, 6 Category and 12 Sub-Category were extracted; including the empowerment of cardiovascular patients to avoid dust exposure (ability to use risk reduction devices, ability to adapt to bad environmental conditions, ability to avoid dust exposure), personal benefits (physical benefits), social benefits (Participation in community health, Contributing to keeping of community resources), individual barriers (mental problems, physical problems), economic barriers (economic problems), environmental and social barriers (problems to access risk reduction equipment, social problems, environmental problems). This study provided a clearer picture of coping appraisal to the risks of dust exposure in cardiovascular patients; therefore, these results help planners develop the most appropriate methods and strategies to design and implement intervention programs to raise awareness of community members and especially cardiovascular patients with emphasis on enhancing self-efficacy and response efficacy and reducing response costs.