FAMILY HEALTH IN CHRONIC ILLNESS (COPD, CAREGIVER BURDEN).
Contributors: Wayne State University.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 189
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Education.
Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence family health in families coping with a member diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The relationships between family health and four dependent variables (time since diagnosis, perception of symptom severity, concurrent family stressors, and caregiver burden) were tested. The study model incorporated concepts derived from King's conceptual framework and theory of goal attainment. In addition, study variables and hypotheses were also influenced by existing research and the investigator's experience with families adjusting to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The sample was composed of 139 COPD caregiving families who were interviewed to assess lifestyle changes resulting from the illness. Six of eight hypotheses were supported or partially supported by the data. All variables, except time since diagnosis, significantly correlated with family health. Caregiver burden was negatively correlated with family health and positively correlated with concurrent family stressors. The greater the burden the less healthy the family and greater the family stressors. Time was not significantly correlated with perception of symptom severity nor caregiver burden. Perception of symptom severity was positively correlated with caregiver burden. As symptom severity scores increased caregiver burden increased. In addition, all independent variables except time contributed significantly to variance in family health scores. Results also revealed that family dynamics were altered by chronic illness, COPD family experiences were similar to those of other chronic care families reported in the literature, and caregivers were aware of the symptoms and emotional experiences of their COPD family members. Further testing of the study model is warranted to determine its usefulness with racially and ethnically diverse samples of caregiving families.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-12, Section: B, page: 6228.

Thesis (PH.D.)--WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, 1992.

School code: 0254.