Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Illness Representation And Cardiac Rehabilitation Utilization Among Older Adults, Carrie N. Keib

Faculty Dissertations

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the number one cause of mortality and disability in the United States (U.S.). The burden of CHD disproportionately impacts the older adult population of the U.S. in relation to mortality, disability, and economic cost. Greater than 55% of acute myocardial infarction deaths and 86% of CHD deaths occur in adults who are 65 years of age or older. The estimated direct and indirect cost of CHD in the U.S. for 2007 is $151.6 billion. Research studies are needed to address the increasing burden of CHD among the older adult population.

The secondary prevention of CHD …

Intervention To Slow Progression Of Peripheral Arterial Disease, Sharon K. Christman

Faculty Dissertations

Lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which results from peripheral atherosclerosis, affects up to 10 million people in the United States alone. Claudication, defined as walking-induced pain in one or both legs relieved by rest, is the primary symptom of lower extremity PAD. Vascular nurses play a critical role in the collaborative care of PAD patients by offering counseling to change unhealthy behaviors, yet patients experience problems in actually overcoming sedentary lifestyle and nicotine addiction--the cornerstones of lifestyle management for PAD. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to identify factors that promote the adoption and maintenance of exercise …

School-Aged Sheltered Homeless Children's Stressors And Coping Strategies, Chu-Yu Huang

Faculty Dissertations

The purpose was to study the stressors, coping strategies, coping effectiveness, behavioral states, and gender differences of school-aged homeless children. The conceptual framework was Lazarus' and Folkman's (1984) stress and coping paradigm and child development perspectives.

A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. The sample consisted of 90 children and their mothers residing in shelters. The children ranged in age from 8 to 12 years, 46 were females and 44 were males, 65 were African-American, 23 were Caucasian, and it was the first time homeless for 55 of the families. Data were collected through interviews with the children using Homeless Sheltered …