The correlation study between health locus of control and self-management strategies of dyspnea for the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• Main Authors: Nai-Hsin Chang, 張迺馨
• Other Authors: Chii-Jun Chiou
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/78547883716394833308

碩士 === 高雄醫學大學 === 護理學研究所 === 99 === Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the world, and dyspnea often occurs as the disease deteriorates. Study of effective self-management strategies and related factors is therefore clearly very important. Objective: Study the nature of dyspnea self-management strategies and health locus of control in COPD patients and the correlation between health locus of control and dyspnea self-management strategies. Methods: A descriptive correlation study was conducted on COPD patients from the thoracic medicine outpatient department of a medical center and regional hospital in Kaohsiung County (Southern Taiwan). In the period from August to October 2010, 200 subjects were recruited. The research tool consisted of a structured questionnaire, including (1) a Chinese Scale for Dyspnea Intervention with a scale reliability of α = .92; (2) a Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (version B) with a scale reliability of α = .92 for internal control, α = .88 for chance, and α = .75 for powerful others; (3) a Chinese version of the Revised Pulmonary Function and Dyspnea Questionnaire with a reliability of α = .95; (4) a Personal Basic Data Form. The expert content validity index (CVI), based on the opinion of five experts, was .94~.96. Results: 1.The dyspnea self-management strategies that were used most and most effectively were (1) moving slowly and (2) staying still. 2. Most subjects in this study tended to have a powerful others locus of control orientation, with an internal and chance locus of control orientation coming second and third. The score indexes were 78, 70 and 58, respectively. 3. A positive correlation was found of internal locus of control with use frequency and effect of dyspnea intervention. A negative correlation was found of chance and powerful others locus of control with use frequency and effect of dyspnea intervention. Conclusion: 1. The most effective dyspnea self-management strategies were (1) moving slowly and (2) staying still. 2. There is a correlation between health locus of control and dyspnea self-management strategies. This conclusion may be utilized in clinical practice in order to increase the effects of self-management.