Abstract

The purpose of this study was to help nursing develop a comprehensive care system for patients in selected emergency departments. To develop such a system, it was necessary to know the characteristics of and the health needs of that population.

The problem of this study was to describe the characteristics and health needs of patients in selected emergency departments.

Patients were interviewed using the Kisch Health Status Proxy (KHSP) and the Health Habits Inventory (HHI) as a guide. The KHSP listed acute and chronic conditions that an individual experienced. It gave a numerical score which rated the respondent in good, medium, or poor health.

The HHI did not give a score but it identified health habits which might positively or negatively influence health.

The findings indicated that 51 per cent of the patients were non-emergent; that 50 per cent were in good health; 40 per cent in medium health; and 10 per cent in poor health. The mean KHSP score was 31.33 or medium health. It was found that women had poorer health than men and their health decreased with increasing age.

There were several health needs identified. Foremost was the need for education on the prevention of infection, for recognition and treatment of depression, for education regarding diet, sleep, exercise, and smoking. Allergies were a major health problem.

Several conclusions were made. There was no relationship between health status and priority of need or the use of a private physician. There was a significant relationship between good health and exercise, and good health and sleep for six or more hours per night. There was a significant relationship between medium and poor health and having difficulty sleeping.

LLU Discipline

Nursing

Department

Nursing

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

L. Lucile Lewis

Second Advisor

Thomas J. Zirkle

Third Advisor

Nancy I. Bergstrom

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1972

Date (Title Page)

9-1972

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Emergency Medical Services

Type

Thesis

Page Count

xi; 114

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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