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2002
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Exploring the Relationships of OASIS Data to Home Care Outcomesî
PI: Kathy Bowles
Period: April 1, 2002 to April 1, 2003
Project Summary:
The purpose of the study is to explore the relationships within a set of existing data collected from patients discharged from home care to the outcomes of an episode of home care. The study has important implications for effectively meeting the needs of older adults by helping home care organizations make accurate clinical decisions and target resources to the appropriate patients. The Outcomes Assessment Information Set (Oasis) data base will be the source used to identify the specific patient functional status characteristics that are associated with the need for continued care versus discharge from service. An Oasis sample data set will be selected for exploratory analyses that include cluster analysis to determine patterns in the data or multiple regression analysis to determine predictors of re-certification for more home care, hospitalization, or discharge without further service. Data mining techniques will be applied to explore for relationships among the data not expected or found with traditional regression. This study has the potential of providing a predictive profile of the characteristics of patients that can be used to identify similar patients for re-certification or intervention to prevent re-hospitalization.
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Does an Early State Support Group Affect AD Patientsí Quality of Life Coping Strategies, Depression and Insight?î
PI: Val Cotter
Period: April, 2002 to April, 2003
Project Summary:
The purpose of the study is to investigate whether a support group intervention for persons with early stage Alzheimerís disease (AD) affects quality of life (QOL), coping strategies, depression and insight into their health and AD. Sixteen patients and sixteen caregivers will be included in the study. A gerontology nurse practitioner and masterís prepared social worker will facilitate the 8 weekly, 90-minute semi-structured discussions using a curriculum tested in previous pilot work. The intervention model encourages group dynamics to discuss and communicate feelings regarding memory loss and focuses on techniques that enhance each personís capabilities for lifestyle adjustments. A team of two part-time support group facilitators and one part-time research assistant will be used. Data will be collected at two time points: baseline and post-intervention (within four-weeks following the completion of the support group). Primary endpoint is patient self-reports of quality of life ratings, secondary measures of depression, and insight using 6-item appreciation of health and AD. Participants will also be asked to complete an evaluation that incorporates their reactions and overall impressions of the intervention. |
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Evaluation of the Accuracy of Height Assessment in Pre-Menopausal Women
PI: Anne McGinley/Terri Lipman
Period: July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003
Project Summary:
The assessment of adult women height is a diagnostic standard of care for osteoporosis and to determine the need for hormonal replacement therapy. Historical research findings indicate that there exists minimal quality assurance related to the technique and precision of linear measurement. Height measurements are frequently inaccurate due to measurements obtained by untrained observers using inaccurate techniques with faulty equipment. The purpose of this study is to examine the accuracy of pre- and post- menopausal women height measurement data applying for comparison purposes a practice model previously developed for accurate growth measurement in young children. The study will use researcher clinical observations to ascertain the standards and techniques employed for linear measurement of a selected group of adult women. A portable stadiometer will then be used to record height measurements comparing for accuracy with the previously recorded measurements. |
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Developing a Palliative Care Program in the Nursing Home: ìA Ethnographic Studyî
PI: Nancy Hodgson and Anne Power
Period: August 1, 2002 to July 31, 2003
Project Summary:
The purpose of the project is 1) to identify the circumstances and conditions that give rise to the development of a palliative care program (PCP) in one long-term care facility, 2) to explore the meaning of palliative care for members of the core health care team, 3) to learn how this process is experienced by core members of the health care team, and 4) to learn how participantís beliefs and attitudes about end-of-life care shape the development of a palliative care program. A model for developing a PCP will be constructed based on the analysis of resident and staff data. These findings can be then used to develop larger joint projects with HCGNE with the aim of developing recommendations for initiating and implementing future sustainable palliative care programs in long term care. |
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A Clinical Database to Facilitate Research with Frail Older Adultsî
PI: L. Evans
Period: May 1, 2002 to September 31, 2002
Project Summary:
The purpose of this project is to prepare an integrated electronic database containing critical data elements for the EPR system that can be used by faculty and student researchers interested in studying phenomena related to care of frail elders. Selected CARE Program date elements compiled from approximately, 300 patient records will be migrated to this designed integrated database. With the completion of this initial step, a planned longer term process of preparing a meta data dictionary of clinical and research databases in gerontologic nursing is anticipated to support future research work. |
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