Why the Elders Delay Responding to Heart Failure Symptoms

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Table of Contents

Research Problem
Literature Review
Theory or Framework
Research Question
Human Subjects
Significance of Problem to Nursing
Use of Research
References

The elders who are sixty-five years of age and above normally experience some health problems. Heart failure is one of the most serious and life-threatening conditions for any elderly person. The paper would discuss the reasons the elderly delay in responding to the symptoms of heart failure.

Research Problem

Heart Failure (HF) has become one of the most common ailments among elderly persons who have reached the age of 65. Most of the admissions and readmissions in the United States are due to heart failure. Over 50% of these cases are preventable when there is adequate self-care. Self-care would include adherence to medication, careful observation of the symptoms and changes thereof (Thomas & Rich, 2007). Even after the diagnosis and treatment, there are repeated admissions due to the delay in responding to the heart failure symptoms. The elderly can use their previous illness experience and social environment to analyze their condition.

There are some reasons for the delays in response to the symptoms. The elderly may not be able to recognize the symptoms in time for treatment. Some of the symptoms are also characteristics of other sicknesses (Dahlström, 2005). Symptoms such as fatigue and dyspnea can be very confusing. The elderly would also view the symptoms as the normal aging process. Another reason is the patient’s perception of the symptoms. Another challenge is the unavailability of published studies that specifically examine contextual factors concerning the heart failure condition. The revelations resulted in a study that would help to analyze the problem and find a lasting solution.

Literature Review

The study involved the use of the Self-Regulation Model of Illness. The model has concepts that describe the multidimensional aspects of illness involving the physical, cognitive, and emotional components. The components involve the past and present symptoms. The literature review is relevant and current. It incorporates the history of the problem and seeks to use the current technology to solve the problem. People can use the information to transform their lives. Previously, there had been a lack of information and education on the problem. The elderly had mixed signs that made them think of the symptoms as something normal. The results of the study indicate that if they have information about the symptoms of heart failure, then they can get help on time. The lacking connection is the lack of comprehensive study about heart failure. Another concern is the insufficient knowledge that the elderly have concerning the sickness.

Theory or Framework

The Self-Regulation Model of Illness is helpful in the study because it examines one’s response to illness through perceptions of the illness or symptoms. First, there are the physical stimuli that help an individual to watch the symptoms and any changes in the body (Jurgens, Fain & Riegel, 2006). The physical stimuli would enable the elderly to use either the cognitive representation of illness or the emotional one. Then there are the coping stage and the appraisal stage. Finally, the elderly have to respond to the stimuli through self-care or to seek care from family, friends, and or the medical personnel.

Research Question

The research question, ‘Why do elders delay responding to heart failure and symptom’ was clear and articulated the main issues involving the elderly (Jurgens, Hoke, Byrnes & Riegel, 2009). The use of a questionnaire was prudent. The examiners also registered the study and got its approval from the institutional review boards at Sony Brook University. The participants had to sign an informed consent agreement. The initial number of questions on the questionnaire was about twelve. But there were some changes later on with additional items to enable the research to focus on the essential items. The questions addressed the somatic perception and the response to symptoms.

Human Subjects

The review and approval at Stony Brook University and the University of Pennsylvania was an indication that the study protocol protected the human subjects. The entire process had to adhere to the procedures of research and results (Masoudi, 2003). The study used the patients admitted to the hospital. The patients had to participate within the three days of admission.

Significance of Problem to Nursing

Heart Failure ailment is a major subject of the nursing practice. There is an increase in the admission of elderly patients with heart failure (Schiff, Fung, Speroff & McNutt, 2003). And because there had been no serious study in the area of heart failure, there is insufficient information on how to deal with the sickness. Nurses found it hard to ascertain the main symptoms of the disease and sometimes ascribed the symptoms to other diseases.

Use of Research

The research would help make quicker decisions in clinical practice. There would be sufficient material and evidence of how to deal with such problems in the future. There would also be the need to improve on the available information by conducting more studies. It would also help to save more lives, and the elderly could live more years when they get correct treatment on time.

References

Dahlström, U. (2005). Frequent non-cardiac comorbidities in patients with chronic heart failure. European Journal of Heart Failure, 7(3), 309-316.

Jurgens, C., Fain, J., & Riegel, B. (2006). Psychometric Testing of the Heart Failure Somatic Awareness Scale. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 21(2), 95-102.

Jurgens, C., Hoke, L., Byrnes, J., & Riegel, B. (2009). Why Do Elders Delay Responding to Heart Failure Symptoms?. Nursing Research, 58(4), 274-282.

Masoudi, F. (2003). Polypharmacy and comorbidity in heart failure. BMJ, 327(7414), 513-514.

Schiff, G., Fung, S., Speroff, T., & McNutt, R. (2003). Decompensated heart failure: symptoms, patterns of onset, and contributing factors. The American Journal of Medicine, 114(8), 625-630.

Thomas, S., & Rich, M. (2007). Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Prognosis of Heart Failure in the Elderly. Heart Failure Clinics, 3(4), 381-387.

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