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Callista Roy, PhD, RN, FAAN, Alphi Chi; Grace Kalnis, Alphi Chi; and Gulcan Bakan, PhD, RN
Study Purpose: The overall purpose of this program of research is to promote adaptation and health in persons with chronic health conditions initially by developing cognitive nursing interventions aimed at coping. To increase understanding of the relationship between human cognitive abilities and adaptation processes requires a more focused defining and measuring of cognition and relating cognition to a specific conceptualization and theory-based measurement of coping. This understanding can provide the basis for planning and testing cognitive nursing interventions to promote adaptation to chronic health conditions. In a time of limited resources for health care, and increasing incidence of chronic conditions, nursing will focus on enhancing the greatest health care resource, the ability within the cognitive and emotional functions of each person to handle health issues. The specific aims of the pilot study are: 1) To determine whether or not there is a relationship between cognitive abilities and coping and adaptation processing used by persons dealing with chronic health conditions; and 2) To determine the specific cognitive abilities that relate to given patterns of coping and adaptation processing in a sample of persons dealing with chronic health conditions.
Methods: A correlational study that explores the relationships among the constructs and sub concepts of the two variables cognitive abilities and coping and adaptation processing. Significant preliminary work has been done by the first author on the conceptual clarification and measurement of both. The construct of cognitive abilities is the independent variable and is measured by the Das/Luria Battery, scores on three main types of cognitive processing, simultaneous, successive and planning. Coping and Adaptation Processing is the dependent variable and is measured by the CAPS developed, tested and published by the first author. The sample, thirty participants with neurologic deficits following surgery for noncancerous central nervous system tumors are tested in with instruments on each variable.The data is analyzed by using the Chi Square statistic on data above and below the median of the total scores and on the subscales of each instrument. Analysis is in process.
Results: Patterns of cognitive abilities that related to higher levels of coping will be identified. It is anticipated that it will be possible to increase understanding of the relationship between human cognitive abilities and adaptation processes by using a more focused defining and measuring of cognition and relating this to a specific conceptualization and theory-based measurement of coping. This understanding can provide the basis for planning and testing cognitive nursing interventions to promote adaptation to chronic health conditions.
Conclusions: In recent years nurse researchers have been increasingly involved in studying cognition, especially in the elderly and in patients following events such as surgery. There has been limited work that related some cognitive strategies to coping with chronic illness, however in these studies cognition is only generally defined and has not been tested. We hope to provide more substantial evidence of this relationship.
Implications: Clear conceptualizations and good measurement of the relationship of these variables of both cognition and coping can lead to specific interventions for people with other chronic conditions that can be tested and eventually provide evidence for practice.