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University of New England

Confidence And Connectedness: A Mixed Methods Study On Patients Managing Co-Occuring Physical And Behavioral Health Conditions

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Treating chronic illness is becoming increasingly team based, yet most team building concepts relate to the team as a dichotomous unit: the medical team and the patient. Patients are expected to be “engaged” and “activated” members of the team, yet there is a gap in knowledge regarding how patients most effectively integrate into the team. Exacerbating the complexity of patient as team member is the multifaceted, ever-changing mood state of patients with co-occurring medical and mental health conditions. The medical field is well aware of the correlations between mental health and chronic illnesses. The purpose of this study is to investigate, from the patient’s perspective, what factors influence the patient’s sense of connectedness to the patient’s care team and how these factors mediate the patient’s positive health behaviors relative to self-care. Findings from a mixed-methods approach showed that the level of perceived confidence relative to self-care of chronic illness was mediated by the presence of a mental health diagnosis. Mixed-methods data also showed that high levels of patient confidence relative to self-care of their chronic illness had no statistical connection to patient’s increased sense of connectedness to their care team. </p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Education
Year dc:date.available
2015

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Fifield, Peter Young
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Carey Clark
  • Michelle Collay
  • Steven Arnault

Subjects

dc:subject × 9

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://dune.une.edu/theses/32
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dune.une.edu:theses-1031

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of New England
Base URL
dune.une.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Fifield, Peter Young. Confidence And Connectedness: A Mixed Methods Study On Patients Managing Co-Occuring Physical And Behavioral Health Conditions. Dissertation thesis, 2015. https://dune.une.edu/theses/32