SYMPTOM BELIEFS AND SHARED CARE IN HOME HEALTH PATIENTS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS (PRESSURE SORES, DECUBITUS ULCER).
Contributors: University Of Illinois At Chicago, Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 172
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Public Health.
Description: The aim of the research was to describe and conceptualize pressure sore risk for patients and caregivers receiving home health care services. A triangulated research design was used to conceptualize the multiple domains of pressure sore risk. Quantitative methods were combined with naturalistic inquiry in order to develop the concepts of self-regulation and self-efficacy, and to understand the physiological risks for pressure sores.

A more complete definition of pressure sore risk was rendered by naturalistic inquiry into beliefs about pressure sore symptoms and behavioral responses with 21 home care patients and 21 family caregivers. Through the method of constant comparison the concept of self-care was reformulated into shared care. Shared care was employed as a core concept to describe the shaping of information and care between the patient and caregiver. Communication of symptoms between the caregiver and patient was identified as critical to the shaping of shared care. A phenomenon evident in shared care was reciprocity.

The concept of self-efficacy was reformulated into the concept of collective efficacy. Collective efficacy was the sum of the patient, caregiver, and community groups' appraisals of abilities to care for the patient. Community aid was recognized as important because many of the caregivers could not meet the physical needs of the patients without community assistance.

Eight of the 21 patients developed pressure sores during this investigation. Physiological risk factors, measured with the Braden scale, were similar for both the pressure sore positive and pressure sore negative groups. Five of the eight pressure sore positive patients were psychologically unaware of pressure sore risk or denied that they were at risk. The development of the concepts of shared care, self-regulation, and self-efficacy in this investigation, as well as the measurement of the physical risk factors have implications for improving pressure sore preventive interventions in home health care.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-08, Section: B, page: 4036.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO, HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1992.

School code: 0806.