Changes in Functional Status of Home Health Cardiac Patients from Admission to Discharge

The purpose of this research is to examine the functional status (ADLs and IADLs) in patients with a primary/secondary diagnosis of cardiac disease in the home health setting. The independent variables of dyspnea and service were examined for the effect on discharge functional status while controlling for the effects of age, gender, race, admission functional status, primary and secondary diagnosis. A descriptive correlational, non-experimental study of cardiac patients in an urban home health agency from January 2003 to December 2004 was conducted using data collected through a retrospective chart review. Seventeen areas of OASIS (ADL and IADL) were assessed for changes in function in this study. The null hypothesis that Home Health Care does not effect a change in functional status for cardiac patients was not supported. A paired t-test was conducted for the total admission functional score and the total discharge functional score. The mean difference in the scores was found to be significant with a t score of -11.094 (p = 0.000), thus patient's functional status improved from admission to discharge. In the standard multiple regression, (F (DF=160) = 24.271, p < 0.001, R2= .645) the independent variables significantly predicts the dependent variable. A stepwise multiple regression was conducted next to determine which specific independent variables made meaningful contributions to the overall predictions. The biggest contributions to discharge functional scores was admission functional score, R2 = .64, R2adj = .619, F = 24.271, p < .05. With the addition of dyspnea at admit the R2 increased to .620, R2 change = .019, F = 6.451, p < .05. It is interesting to note that age, gender, ethnicity, diagnosis, or service were not significant for discharge functional status scores.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD Nursing

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation: Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Year dc:date.available

2006

Author dc:creator

• McGoldrick, Mary Rita, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN, ANP-BC

• Cardiac disease
• functional status
• home healthcare
• nursing
• patients

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/338

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.sandiego.edu:dissertations-1341