ABSTRACT
PURPOSE/AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate whether health literacy, self-efficacy, and medication adherence can explain or predict the variance in health outcomes (measured as perceived physical or mental health status [HS]) in persons with chronic heart failure (HF). DESIGN: A nonexperimental cross-sectional survey study used data gathered from 175 patients with chronic HF from urban cardiology practices in the northeast United States. METHODS: The Paasche-Orlow and Wolf Causal Pathways conceptual model and Bandura's self-efficacy theory were used to select and test variables in the study. A demographic questionnaire, the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy, the Self-Efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and the Short Form-12 version 2 assessing perceived physical and mental HS were completed. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were used to analyze relationships among the variables. RESULTS: Significant associations between health literacy and self-efficacy and between health literacy and perceived mental HS were found (P < .05). High self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of physical HS (P < .01). The strongest predictor of mental HS was medication adherence (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Support of self-efficacy and medication adherence may improve HS. Including health literacy strategies in clinical practice may support improvements in HS in people with chronic HF.
Subject(s)
Health Literacy/statistics & numerical data , Health Status , Heart Failure/drug therapy , Aged , Chronic Disease , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Heart Failure/psychology , Humans , Male , Medication Adherence/statistics & numerical data , Self Efficacy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) provides a rich portrait of one's perceived social support including network size/composition and quality of support. Analyses of quantitative research reports and critiques of the NSSQ revealed non-negligible measurement error. We document evidence of measurement error, report potential sources of this error, and present forthcoming psychometric testing. METHODS: Quantitative evidence of measurement error from the NSSQ literature provided the basis for initial hypotheses concerning sources of error in network nomination and support ratings. We then conducted cognitive interviews to investigate these hypotheses. RESULTS: Cognitive interviews revealed evidence of respondents' miscomprehension and response option bias. CONCLUSIONS: The current nomination process coupled with the lack of a "not applicable" response option and embedded examples in tangible Aid items reduces the accuracy of NSSQ subscores.
Subject(s)
Social Support , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Spirituality and the expression of spirituality have received renewed interest in both nursing and nonnursing literature over the last 20 years. Scholars in spirituality studies have contributed to the wealth of both qualitative and quantitative data that exist. Spiritual practices that facilitate spiritual health are embedded within many nursing interventions. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of empirical and associated nursing literature on spiritual practices. Definitions of spirituality and spiritual health are included, and theoretical underpinnings of the empirical literature are discussed. Relation of spiritual practice as a health behavior is presented with implications for future research identified.
Subject(s)
Clinical Competence , Holistic Nursing/organization & administration , Nurse's Role , Nurse-Patient Relations , Spirituality , Holistic Nursing/education , Humans , Nursing Evaluation Research , Nursing Methodology Research , Quality of Health Care , Religion and MedicineABSTRACT
This qualitative study explored patients' perceptions of spirituality and of the nurse as a spiritual care provider. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 8 adults older than 21, who were living at home, and had been discharged from the hospital within the past 3 months having had at least a 5-day length of stay. Participants agreed that during their hospitalization, nurses were kind and caring but these behaviors were not perceived as spiritual care. Study findings suggest that patients do not perceive spiritual care within the role of nursing and therefore they did not share their spiritual concerns with nurses. Study findings are limited by sample size; however, implications for practice are that nurses need to be aware of a patient's spiritual needs to provide spiritual care.
