My research focus is nursing interventions for patients and family care givers managing chronic illness (i.e., heart failure), and measuring outcomes for both.
Based on qualitative research with home health care patients and family care givers, I developed and evaluated an instrument to measure a shared interaction (Shared Care) between a patient and their care giver. Shared Care is a system of three processes (communication, decision making, and reciprocity) used by patients and family care givers to exchange support.
I conducted 4 cross-sectional studies with home health family care dyads, exploring the relationships between shared care and mutuality, relationship quality, depression, quality of life, and self care in HF, and to confirm the factor structure of Shared Care. The data supported the factor structure of Shared Care. Significant associations were supported between components of shared care and mutuality, relationship quality, depression, quality of life, and self care in HF. This work reflects experience with 395 family care dyads, and suggests that augmenting process of Shared Care may improve care outcomes for both patients and caregivers.
Recently, I conducted a field test of the Shared Care Intervention (SCI) with 10 home health family dyads to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the SCI, and examine trends in outcomes. The pilot test results supported the feasibility and acceptability of the SCI. Trends observed in patient outcomes suggested that the SCI improved patient communication and self care management. Caregivers reported improved preparedness, health status, and decreased pain and fatigue.