EFFECTS OF POSITIONAL CHANGES ON SELECTED PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS IN CLIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION.
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 120
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Psychobiology.
Description: Nurses advocate changes in position to promote comfort, improve sensory stimulation, and prevent complications of bedrest. One specific situation for which dangling has been prescribed is in the transition from bedrest to activity.

The purpose of this study was the scientific observation of human responses measured with clients with atrial fibrillation, accompanying congestive heart failure, during position changes. The conceptual framework used to guide this study was based on the Neuman systems model, which was enhanced by physiologic theory.

The sample consisted of 26 clients between the ages of 54 and 90 years. These patients met multiple exclusion criteria for the inclusion in the study. The clients were turned left, right, and dangled with feet moving. Prior to the position changes, the patient rested 5 minutes in bed. Baseline perceived level of exertion (psychological measurement) and blood pressure (ventricular response rate, rate pressure product physiological measurements) were obtained at rest. These same measurements were obtained while the client was on the right side, left side, or dangling position at.5 minute into position, 2 and 4 minutes into the position change.

Repeated measures analyses of variance revealed statistically significant results for the.5 minute measurement on systolic and diastolic blood pressures, on the left side and dangling. However, the mean drop was 13 mmgHg and 8 mmgHg for these positions which would not cause clinical symptoms. A Wilcoxin non-parametric test was performed which revealed a difference in client rating of exertion between baseline and dangling. These findings tended to support the changes of position as being safe for clients experiencing the concurrent stressors of position change and atrial fibrillation accompanying congestive heart failure.

Recommendations included replicating the study for the client with multiple triggers for atrial fibrillation, and inclusion of the chair rest and standing position in the methodology. Also, it was recommended that research pertinent to quality of life and the stressor of atrial fibrillation could improve nursing interventions relevant to this phenomena.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-01, Section: B, page: 0200.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1991.

School code: 0005.