The transition from hospital to home is a critical period of health risk for family caregivers and elderly persons for whom they provide care. Following discharge, there are frequently changes in routines as a result of the changes in the elderly persons' self-care abilities and treatment plan. These changes potentially increase caregiver stress and could result in caregiver illness or injury. Intervention by nurses during this critical period could reduce risks and promote health and well-being for family caregivers and care recipients. The long term objective of this study is to obtain background information to develop an intervention to promote health and well-being for family caregivers during the critical transition period from hospital to home. The proposed study will provide information about the timing and nature of the risks to caregivers' health during the transition from hospital to home which can be used to develop an intervention.
The specific aims are to: 1) test a model of factors influencing family caregiver response and caregiver health outcomes during the transition from hospital to home; 2) use caregiver descriptors to confirm the nature of health risks and nature of supports received during the transition from hospital to home; and 3). describe changes In family caregiver's coping behaviors and physical and mental health during the transition from hospital to home. In addition, descriptive data will be collected regarding length of time in caregiving role, relationship to recipient, and community resources utilized. A repeated measures design with 340 caregiver/recipient dyads will be used for this study. Data will be collected prior to hospital discharge, at two weeks and two months post discharge. LISREL VI and analysis of variance-will be used in analyzing the quantitative data. Qualitative data from the interviews with family caregivers at two weeks and two months post discharge will provide valuable information to develop an intervention. Information about the experiences of family caregivers and care recipients during the transition from hospital to home is essential as a basis for developing interventions that promote the health of family caregivers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01NR002249-01A2
Application #
3392174
Study Section
Nursing Research Study Section (NURS)
Project Start
1991-05-15
Project End
1994-04-30
Budget Start
1991-05-15
Budget End
1992-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
168559177
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Bull, M J; Luo, D; Maruyama, G M (2000) Measuring continuity of elders' posthospital care. J Nurs Meas 8:41-60
Bull, M J; Maruyama, G; Luo, D (1997) Testing a model of family caregivers' perceptions of elder behavior two weeks posthospitalization on caregiver response and health. Sch Inq Nurs Pract 11:231-48; discussion 249-55
Bull, M J; Jervis, L L; Her, M A (1995) Hospitalized elders: the difficulties families encounter. J Gerontol Nurs 21:19-23
Bull, M J; Maruyama, G; Luo, D (1995) Testing a model for posthospital transition of family caregivers for elderly persons. Nurs Res 44:132-8
Bull, M J; Luo, D; Maruyama, G (1994) Symptom Questionnaire anxiety and depression scales: reliability and validity. J Nurs Meas 2:25-36
Bull, M J (1994) Use of formal community services by elders and their family caregivers 2 weeks following hospital discharge. J Adv Nurs 19:503-8
Bull, M J (1994) A discharge planning questionnaire for clinical practice. Appl Nurs Res 7:193-9
Bull, M J (1994) Elders' and family members' perspectives in planning for hospital discharge. Appl Nurs Res 7:190-2