ISSN:0029-6562    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundThe Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire was designed to measure three functional types of social support: (a) affect, (b) affirmation, and (c) aid. Due to high intercorrelations among factors, it has been impossible to empirically disentangle these three factors using exploratory factor analysis.ObjectiveTo confirm the originally hypothesized three-factor structure of the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire by imposing theoretically motivated constraints upon the model.MethodWith pooled data (N= 457) from two previous studies, the parameters of the hypothesized LISREL model were estimated by the Generally Weighted Least Squares Method using an asymptotic covariance matrix.ResultsThe Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire measures three functional types of social support: (a) AFFECT, (b) AFFIRMATION, and (c) AID (χ2= 8.42,df= 6,p= .208). These three factors are highly correlated and their unique error terms are uncorrelated.ConclusionsThe Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire is a valid and reliable measure of total network support, as well as three functional types of social support. The three functional types of social support should be calculated and used in analyses, when appropriate. To support the development of context-specific theories, the efficacy of specific functional types of social support from specific network members should be investigated.

ISSN:0029-6562    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundEvidence exists demonstrating the benefits of exercise for people with osteoarthritis, but little is known about whether exercise programs are effective, that is, whether the benefits of exercise can be seen in “real life” programs for “normal” people under nonlaboratory conditions.ObjectiveTo identify characteristics of and outcomes for participants who adhere to a community-based aquatic exercise program.MethodTwo hundred and forty-nine adults with osteoarthritis were recruited from Washington State for randomization to a 20-week Arthritis Foundation aquatic exercise program (n= 125) or a wait-list control group (n= 124). Adherers were defined as those attending at least two classes per week for 16 of 20 weeks. Measures included: Quality of Well Being Scale, Health Assessment Questionnaire, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, and a single arthritis quality of life rating-item.ResultsBaseline to postintervention change scores revealed that treatment-group adherers (N= 35) reported improved quality of well-being, physical function, and change in arthritis quality of life compared to controls (N= 124). When comparing treatment-group adherers (N= 35) to treatment-group nonadherers (N= 67), quality of well-being and depressed mood improved for adherers, but not for nonadherers.ConclusionWhen analyzed for level of participation, exercise benefits adults with osteoarthritis. Consistent participation in exercise programs results in better outcomes. Improved methods are needed to enhance adherence, with increased attention to the role of intrinsic factors such as self-efficacy and belief systems.

ISSN:0029-6562    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0029-6562    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundAs the concept of health in Chinese people with chronic illness had not been previously explored, a scale to measure this concept in this client group was developed.ObjectiveTo develop and test the psychometric integrity of the Concept of Health Scale (CHS) for use with Chinese people.MethodsPrevious nursing experience and a literature review were used to inform the initial development of the CHS. It was revised following scrutiny by a panel of experts. Two studies tested the psychometric integrity of the scale. In Study One the data gathered from 80 Chinese people with a chronic illness were subjected to item analysis and exploratory factor analysis. In Study Two, with a convenience sample of 372 chronically ill Chinese people, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted.ResultsInstrument analysis in Study One resulted in a 34-item scale with a Cronbach alpha of 0.94. The results of an exploratory factor analysis showed that physical, psychosocial, and spiritual factors were represented by the CHS. The hypothesized model of the CHS was tested in Study Two using confirmatory factor analyses. The results of this study indicated that the concept of health was comprised of six first-order and three second-order factors.ConclusionThe results of this study demonstrated that Chinese people with chronic illness held a broad frame of reference in gauging the concept of health. The development of the CHS brings us one step closer to understanding how Chinese people with chronic illness regard the concept of health.

ISSN:0029-6562    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundDespite ongoing investigations into specific causes of and treatments for pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, it remains a common phenomenon of varying intensity that affects the quality of life for both affected women and their families.ObjectiveTo understand how women cope with severe nausea, vomiting, and/or retching during pregnancy.MethodWomen hospitalized with severe symptoms (N= 24) were purposely selected to participate in 24 semistructured interviews and one focus group (N= 4).ResultsA process was identified wherein women experienced severe and unrelenting nausea and related symptoms which became progressively more debilitating, leaving them feeling uncertain about when and if they would recover. This caused the women to isolate themselves from their world in an effort to cope with symptoms.ConclusionsSevere nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is a complex and overwhelming syndrome. Rather than emphasizing a specific treatment for a particular symptom (e.g., vomiting), nurses can intervene to reduce the impact of factors that affect the magnitude of nausea, vomiting, and retching.

ISSN:0029-6562    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundAlthough the Personal Resource Questionnaire (PRQ 85-Part 2) has been widely used to measure perceived level of social support, results of psychometric evaluation of the measure with a Korean population are not currently available in the literature.ObjectiveTo assess the psychometric properties of the Korean language version of the PRQ 85.MethodAn empirical validation of the theoretical relationships among the construct, social support, as measured by the PRQ 85, and other related constructs was conducted. In addition, factor structure comparison with a cross-validation technique was utilized on a combined sample of 555 Korean adults from three independent studies.ResultsConstruct validity for the Korean PRQ 85 was evidenced by statistically significant correlations of perceived social support with the theoretically relevant variables such as depression and psychosocial adjustment. Using principal axis factoring with an oblique rotation, the two-factor solution was found to be most satisfactory in the first random sample and was cross-validated in the second sample, accounting for 52% and 54.1% of the total variance, respectively. Inspecting the distribution of variables within the factors, however, only the first factor appeared to be a construct-related factor; the second factor, which was exclusively represented by negatively keyed items, was method-related.ConclusionThe findings suggest that a one-factor solution can be used to accurately describe a substantive (or construct-related) factor pattern of the Korean version of the PRQ 85. Although researchers generally agree that negatively worded questions are important in order to minimize the “response bias,” this approach appeared to be problematic for Koreans who used the translated PRQ 85. Further research is warranted to explicate this important methodological issue in cross-cultural instrumentation.

ISSN:0029-6562    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundAgitated behavior is a widespread problem that adversely affects the health of nursing home residents and increases the cost of their care.ObjectiveTo examine whether modifying environmental stimuli by the use of calming music and hand massage affects agitated behavior in persons with dementia.MethodA four group, repeated measures experimental design was used to test the effect of a 10-minute exposure to either calming music, hand massage, or calming music and hand massage simultaneously, or no intervention (control) on the frequency and type of agitated behaviors in nursing home residents with dementia (N= 68). A modified version of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory was used to record agitated behaviors.ResultsEach of the experimental interventions reduced agitation more than no intervention. The benefit was sustained and increased up to one hour following the intervention (F= 6.47,p< .01). The increase in benefit over time was similar for each intervention group. When types of agitated behaviors were examined separately, none of the interventions significantly reduced physically aggressive behaviors (F= 1.93,p= .09), while physically nonaggressive behaviors decreased during each of the interventions (F= 3.78,p< 01). No additive benefit resulted from simultaneous exposure to calming music and hand massage. At one hour following any intervention, verbally agitated behavior decreased more than no intervention.ConclusionCalming music and hand massage alter the immediate environment of agitated nursing home residents to a calm structured surrounding, offsetting disturbing stimuli, but no additive benefit was found by combining interventions simultaneously.

ISSN:0029-6562    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundThe assessment of burden has become a challenging task for most researchers because cultural, ethical, religious, and other personal values may influence perceptions of the meaning and consequences of burden. The lack of examination of the psychometric properties of the burden measures across studies limits the scientific rigor for generating additional research into “burden.”ObjectiveTo examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory for its utility in clinical and research practice.MethodThe first investigation evaluated the consistency between the Chinese and English versions of the Caregiver Burden Inventory. The second investigation established the internal consistent reliability, test-retest reliability, content validity, concurrent validity, and construct validity.ResultsA pairedt-test and intra-class correlation indicated that the Chinese version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory was a very good reflection of the English version and demonstrated item equivalence. It also showed adequate internal consistency reliability, appropriate content validity, and concurrent validity. Factor analysis revealed moderate intercorrelations between subscales and high factor loadings also helped to clarify the psychometric meaning.DiscussionThe reliability and validity information presented in this paper support using the Chinese version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory as a research instrument in measuring the caregiver burden in the Chinese population. Further study is needed to discriminate the developmental, emotional, and social burden constructs.

ISSN:0029-6562    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

BackgroundThe purpose of this article is to highlight the substantive changes and enhancements between the 4th edition and new 5th edition of thePublication Manual of the American Psychological Associationso that modifications and enhancements are more easily incorporated into the reader’s writing and editing practice.ApproachThe 4th and new 5th editions of thePublication Manual of the American Psychological Associationwere compared and substantive changes are presented.ResultsThe following text style requirements are addressed: (a) use of parentheses to enclose statistical values, (b) use of italics, and (c) presentation of statistical data. Reference citation style changes include: (a) use of italics instead of underlining, (b) use of et al., and (c) use of the hanging indent. With the explosion of electronic media use, guidelines for documenting these sources are reviewed. Appropriate use of adverbs and research subject descriptors, submission of manuscripts on disks or files, responsibilities of corresponding authors, and converting the dissertation into a journal article are addressed.DiscussionThis information should assist the reader to quickly and accurately focus upon the enhancements and changes in the recently releasedAPA5th edition. Hopefully these changes will easily be incorporated into the readers’ editing responsibilities, manuscripts, and subsequent publications.

ISSN:0029-6562    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2002

数据来源: OVID