COMPONENTS OF SELF-CARE ABILITY OF OLDER PERSONS WITH CHRONIC DISEASE.
Contributors: Rush University, College Of Nursing.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 150
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Gerontology.
Description: The concept of self-care is very applicable to the person with chronic disease because much of the health related self-care is performed by this individual in his or her home setting. For the elderly, among whom multiple chronic conditions commonly occur, self-care assumes even greater significance.

An extensive search of the literature revealed a lack of empirical research related to the identification of the components of self-care ability in relationship with health or illness. In response to the lack of reported research, the following research questions were developed: (a) What are the components of self-care ability, (b) What are the identifying characteristics of each component of self-care ability, and (c) How do the components of self-care ability interrelate in the real world situation?.

Grounded theory methodology was used. Data were collected through participant observation and intensive interviews with older adults with chronic disease. The setting for the study consisted of several sites: residence complex for elderly; residences of elderly; chronic disease health food stores, park areas, pharmacies, rural setting, and wellness centers. A total of 36 intensive interviews was completed. Using constant comparative analysis and theoretical sampling, the data from the interviews and participant observation field notes were examined for the components of self-care ability, their indicators and the interrelationship of these in the lives of older adults with chronic disease.

The five components of self-care ability that emerged from the data are: self-esteem, valuing, problem-solving, knowledge, and belief system. Analysis of the data revealed the identifying characteristics or indicators of each component. The disease-related and health-related self-care behaviors reflecting the self-care ability of the older adult in relation to chronic disease were also identified.

The components of self-care ability interact with each other and with environmental factors throughout the individual's life-span through a basic social process: increasing self-care ability through patterning for success. The three stages of the process are: (a) acquiring, (b) integrating, and (c) patterning for success. A model depicts the four characteristics of the basic social process: (a) life-span development, (b) movement toward increased complexity, (c) unidirectionality, and (d) contextuality.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, Section: B, page: 1731.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--RUSH UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF NURSING, 1984.

School code: 0591.