PROTECTING INDEPENDENCE: PERSPECTIVES OF MONTANA ELDERS.
Contributors: University of Utah.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 155
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Gerontology.
Description: Recent data from the 1990 census revealed that 26% of elders in the U.S. live in nonmetropolitan or rural areas. In spite of increasing numbers of elders, published nursing research, which focuses on the health-related concerns of rural elders, has remained sparse.

The purpose of this study was the development of a substantive theory that explicated the strategies and tactics used by elders living in urban, rural, and remote rural areas of Montana in managing their health care needs. The design of the study was descriptive exploratory field research. Data were collected using semistructured interviews over a 4-month time period. Data collection and analysis were guided by the grounded theory tenets of constant comparative analysis and theoretical sampling. The convenience sample consisted of 30 elders. The age range of the elders was 65 to 96 years, with a mean age of 75.4 years.

The major outcome of the study was the development of a substantive theory entitled Protecting Independence: Perspectives of Montana Elders. The three major properties of protecting independence are (a) maximizing health, (b) managing illness episodes, and (c) reflecting on the eventuality. These strategies varied with health status and resources.

Maximizing health is comprised of the tactics tending the body, nurturing the mind, feeding the spirit, and minimizing interference. Managing illness episodes is comprised of the tactics gauging the seriousness of an illness episode, deciding on the course of action for the episode, and, for rural and remote rural elders, dealing with distance. Reflecting on the eventuality is comprised of the tactics making connections about the relationship between health status and potential loss of independence and realizing the potential impact loss of independence would have on lifestyle.

The major significance of the study is its contribution to the developing theory base of rural nursing. Understanding the strategies and tactics for protecting independence enables planning appropriate and realistic nursing interventions for rural elders. Several relational statements and questions were generated that can serve as the focus for further research or testing of the theory.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-08, Section: B, page: 4241.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, 1995.

School code: 0240.