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Meaning-in-life in nursing-home patients: a correlate with physical and emotional symptoms.
- Source :
-
Journal of clinical nursing [J Clin Nurs] 2014 Apr; Vol. 23 (7-8), pp. 1030-43. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Dec 18. - Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Aims and Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of physical and emotional symptoms and the associations between symptoms and meaning-in-life in a cognitively intact nursing-home population.<br />Background: Meaning has been found to be a strong individual predictor of successful ageing and life satisfaction as well as an important psychological variable that promotes well-being. Meaning serves as a mediating variable in both psychological and physical health.<br />Design and Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design. Data were collected in 2008 and 2009 using the QLQ-C15-PAL quality-of-life questionnaire, the purpose-in-life test and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A total of 250 cognitively intact nursing-home patients who met the inclusion criteria were approached and 202 attended.<br />Results: The prevalence of symptoms was fairly high, with fatigue (57%), pain (49%), constipation (43%) and dyspnoea (41%) as the most frequent physical symptoms, while 30% were depressed and 12% had anxiety. Significant correlations between meaning-in-life and symptom severity were displayed.<br />Conclusions: The level of symptom severity among cognitively intact nursing-home patients is high, requiring highly competent staff nurses. Meaning-in-life might be an important resource in relation to a patient's physical and emotional health and global well-being.<br />Relevance to Clinical Practice: Facilitating patients' meaning-in-life might help reducing symptom severity and fostering quality of life in cognitively intact nursing-home patients. However, advancing staff nurses' competence in palliative care, symptom management and nurse-patient interaction is important for care quality and quality if life in nursing homes.<br /> (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1365-2702
- Volume :
- 23
- Issue :
- 7-8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of clinical nursing
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 24350911
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.12282