This study was conducted to determine the impact of a husband's chronic illness on the spouse's life. The sample was 76 married women, 46 whose husbands had a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 30 whose husbands did not have a chronic illness. On a mailed questionnaire wives of COPD patients reported higher subjective stress (p = .032) and lower life satisfaction (p = .006) than the wives whose husbands did not have a chronic illness. The COPD wives assumed more new roles and responsibilities, relinquished more social activities, rated their health lower, and reported less frequent marital relations. Implications for future research are addressed.
The purpose of this study was to determine the thoughts and feelings of patients (n = 24) awaiting coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and, in particular, the thoughts and feeling of those patients (n = 17) whose surgical procedure was postponed. On average these patients waited four additional days before the surgery could be performed. Patients reported that the most difficult part of CABG surgery was the wait itself. Those whose CABG surgery was postponed expressed anger and disappointment, had additional tests, procedures and medication, extended hospital stays and increased costs.
The purpose of this study was to determine whom nurses identify as difficult patients and how nurses might react to them emotionally and behaviorally. Participants (N = 73) responded to a self‐report questionnaire that contained hypothetical situations involving difficult patients. Frustration and anger were the most common reactions. The traits or behaviors that nurses reported as belonging to the most difficult patients were characteristics that are potentially modifiable. In the majority of cases the nurses' reports of their reactions were classic fight/flight responses.
1. Data were collected from staff nurses on medical-surgical units at two area hospitals and from elders at eight local senior citizen groups and five housing communities. 2. Elders rated physical comfort activities and psychosocial activities related to communication higher than did nurses. 3. Nurses rated activities related to discharge planning higher than did elders. 4. Knowing which care activities elders consider important can aid nurses in easing the trauma of hospitalization by guiding the provision of care that meets the needs, expectations, and desires of the elderly.
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