The subjects of this study were 100 elderly people who were over 60 years of age and had chronic pain. The study examined the matter of quality of life and self-efficacy of elderly patients with chronic pain including the influence of related factors on these variables. Also, by examining their relation, it provides basic data for the development of efficient nursing interventions for the elderly patients with chronic pain.
The tools were the general self-efficacy scale by Shei r & Maddux(1982) and a specific self-efficacy Scale(Lorig et al, 1989) modified to better suit the subjects of this study. The quality of life scale by You-Ja Ro(1988) modified to better suit the subjects of this study was used.
The data were collected from August to October 1999. Four researchers and two research assistants developed a data collection protocol subjected to a pilot study for confirmation of validity. In this study, the research assistants read the questionaire to the subjects and recorded the responses themselves. The interviews lasted 40-50 minutes on an average.
The data thus collected were analyzed in terms of t-test, ANOVA, Pearson´s correlation coefficient, using the SAS PC program.
The major findings are as follows:
1) For self-efficacy it was found that males had higher self-efficacy than females for specific self-efficacy. But for general efficacy, males and females showed similar results. The the quality of life was found to be higher for males than females.
2) A positive correlation was´, identified between the specific self-efficacy, general self-efficacy and quality of life.
3) The general characteristics affecting the self-efficacy of elderly patients with chronic pain were employment, age, level of education, spouse, economic status and income. Self-efficacy was higher among those who were employed, aged between 66-70, well-educated, married and rich or having their own income.
4) The general characteristics affecting the quality of life of elderly patients with chronic pain were lodging with children, religion, level of education and economic status. The quality of life was higher among those who lived with their children and were Buddhists, were well-educated and rich.
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