Dissertation
The effect of social support on functional recovery and well-being in post joint arthroplasty older adults
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.), Drexel University
Aug 2009
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3145
Abstract
Projections by the United States Census Bureau indicate a continual rise in the population of older adults. As the number of older Americans increases at an unprecedented rate, there is concern that the proportion of those who are disabled may also be increasing. Increased dependency from chronic illness and aging may bring with it social and personal concerns in the areas of health care, community health services, and quality of life. For example, osteoarthritis is one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States today and its prevalence is expected to increase as the population ages. Direct and indirect costs of osteoarthritis are 120 billion dollars per year in medical treatment and lost wages secondary to functional disability. Surgical intervention for this disease process, such as joint replacement or arthroplasty, is rapidly becoming the treatment of choice for degenerative joint disease. Today, over 300,000 knee replacements and 120,000 hip replacements are performed annually in the United States. Additionally, managed health care criteria and changes in Medicare and private insurance reimbursement have greatly affected the way care is delivered to the older adult population following joint arthroplasty. A large percentage of joint replacement patients have now assumed responsibility for their recovery process. A shortened hospital stay with discharge to home requires a social support system in place to provide both the personal and professional assistance that these patients will require in the early stages of their recovery. This subjective, exploratory study assessed and measured social support and evaluated its impact on functional recovery and well-being in older adults post jointarthroplasty. The central hypothesis of this study is that the presence of social support will positively impact functional recovery and well-being of older adults after joint arthroplasty. While social support, associated with the covariates of "living arrangements" and "age", demonstrated a positive relationship with perceived well-being, no relationship was demonstrated with high or low levels of social support and functional recovery.
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Details
- Title
- The effect of social support on functional recovery and well-being in post joint arthroplasty older adults
- Creators
- Ruth Ann Kiefer - DU
- Contributors
- Linda Wilson (Advisor) - DU
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctoral Nursing; Nursing (Graduate); College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 3145; 991014632445404721