published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

No description available.

The purpose of this Heideggerian hermeneutical study was to explore and uncover the hidden meaning of quality of life as experienced by a population of individuals 65 years of age and beyond. Five participants were interviewed and asked to describe quality of life as these individuals experienced it. Consistent with the method, purposive sampling was used in order to gain an understanding from subjects who have experienced the phenomenon and could articulate experiences. A group of retirees who meet monthly at a church were asked to participate. Interviews were audiotaped and the data was transcribed by this researcher. Audio tapes were destroyed when the study was completed. Transcribed data was shared with other researchers who are familiar with Heideggerian hermeneutics for the purpose of gaining insight into interpretation. When data was shared, names of participants and other identifying information was removed. Sharing of data for the purpose of interpretation is inherent in the Heideggerian method as described by Diekelmann, Allen and Tanner (1989). Participants were guaranteed confidentiality and were free to withdraw from the study without prejudice at any time. Data was analyzed in seven stages as described by Diekelmann, Allen and Tanner (1989). Findings included a constitutive pattern of quality of life and integrity as one experience. These two ways of being allowed the elderly to experience a sense of unity and completeness as well as a sense of fulfilling one's own destiny. The main theme supporting the constitutive patter was a strong belief and connectedness to a higher power. This faith allowed the elderly to connect to family, friends, church groups and memories. Anticipation of loss and change was a daily experience of being elderly, yet it allowed them to appreciate each day as it was lived without fear or loss of hope. Health promotion was significant because the elderly knew maintaining health was a way to maintain connectedness to that which was valued. The study was significant in contributing an understanding to the experience of quality of life in the elderly population. / School of Nursing

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between health promotion and quality of life in noninstitutionalized older adults. The study was conducted within the framework of Nola Pender's Health Promotion Model.Approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Ball State University for human protection of the participants. Permission from the five churches' boards was obtained. Written assurance of anonymity of subjects was given.This study was descriptive and correlational. Quality oflife was the dependent variable and the independent variables were health promoting behaviors, importance of health, perceived health status, the number of chronic health conditions and any consequent disruption to life, prior involvement in a senior citizens' wellness group or with a health advisor, and demographic variables including age, gender, marital status, living alone or with a companion or family, and education. Volunteer subjects aged 65 and older from five church groups were asked to complete the following questionnaires: Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, Quality of Life Index, Value Survey, and a demographic sheet. The demographic questionnaire included an item regarding self-perceived health status, whether or not the participant had been involved in a wellness group or with a health advisor for older adults, and a checklist of chronic health conditions and whether or not these had had debilitating consequences for the participant.Hypotheses included the following: (1) There is no correlation between health promoting behavior and quality of life among older adults. (2) There is no correlation between importance of health and quality of life among older adults. (3) There is no correlation between perceived health status and quality of life among older adults. (4) There is no correlation between the number of chronic health conditions and quality of life among older adults. (5) There is no correlation between disruption brought about by chronic health conditions and quality of life among older adults. (6) There is no significant difference between those older adults who had participated in a senior citizens' wellness group or with a health advisor and those who had not. (7) There are no significant differences in older adult males and females and those who live alone or with family or a companion regarding quality of life. (8) There is no correlation between age and quality of life among older adults. (9) There is no correlation between number of years of education and quality of life among older adults.Statistical significance was found between Quality of Life Index and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile scores (r=0.24, p<0.05) and Quality of Life Index and self-perceived health status scores (r=0.33, p<0.01). Other correlations, t-test, and analyis of variance did not achieve statistical significance. / School of Nursing

Data was provided by researchers of the Einstein Aging Study (EAS) of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University whom statistically analyzed data from the Bronx Aging Study cohort, concluding that participation in cognitive leisure activities and one physical activity, dancing, were associated with a reduced risk of dementia [1]. We explore data from a second (the EAS) cohort, utilizing Cox Proportional-Hazards and extended Cox regression [13]. Cognitive leisure activities in general, and particularly doing crossword puzzles, reading books, watching television, and emailing are associated with a reduced risk of dementia. Doing aerobics, learning computer programming, babysitting, dancing, jogging singing, and weight training are associated with an increased risk of dementia. Participation in cognitive leisure activities in general, and reading books in particular, remains highly significant even after adjustment for well-known risk factors [14] such as: age, cognitive status, depression, medical illnesses, gender, ethnicity, education and economic status. / by Carrie Stevens. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Older people represent an increasing proportion of new cancer diagnoses yet little is known about their experiences with cancer or their knowledge about risk factors, benefits of lifestyle modification to decrease risk or participation in early detection programs. Two studies were conducted, the first to document a lived experience with a new cancer diagnosis and the second to test for relationships between knowledge and attitude to cancer and self-reported participation in screening for breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. / http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1297244 / Thesis (D.Nurs.) -- School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, 2007

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health