THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG SELECTED STRESS VARIABLES AND WHITE BLOOD COUNT IN SEVERELY HEAD INJURED PATIENTS.
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 130
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to ascertain if there is a significant relationship among the hormonal, cardiovascular, and neurological indicators of physical stress and the white blood cell count in the first 2 days postinjury in severely head injured patients managed within the cerebral perfusion pressure protocol. Variables controlled in the investigation were patient age, sex, concomitant injuries, blood alcohol level, and the dosage of catecholamines and THAM. A second purpose was to determine if a difference existed between daily predicted white blood cell counts in severely head injured patients managed within the cerebral perfusion pressure protocol. The Neuman Systems Model of Nursing was used as the framework to guide this study. An analytical model provided direction in delineating relationships among variables and provided guidance in data analysis.

This study was a secondary analysis using 152 severely head injured patients managed within the cerebral perfusion pressure protocol. All patients had Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 7 or less for at least 24 hours. The focus of this study was on the first 2 days postinjury. Using regression analysis, two distinct analytical models evolved from this study: one for each of the first 2 days postinjury.

Stress variables and covariables explained 15% of the variation in WBC day 1, with serum glucose, age, and injury being significant variables. Stress variables and covariables explained 27% of the variation in WBC on day 2 and sex and catecholamines were significant variables. The dosage of catecholamines administered correlated significantly with serum glucose on both day 1 and day 2.

One-way analysis of variance revealed that the predicted white blood cell counts were significantly different for the 7 days postinjury in the severely head injured patient. Post hoc analysis showed the most significant difference was between day 1 and the remainder of the 6 days.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-02, Section: B, page: 0365.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1993.

School code: 0005.