Relationships among family as a social support system, exercise of self-care agency, and health status in the adult with a chronic illness

Abstract

Inadequate, expensive health care services for the chronically ill, confront the lay person as one of the major forces in the social movement toward self-care. The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to investigate within a theoretical framework derived from Orem's conceptual model of nursing relationships among family as a social support system, exercise of self-care agency, and health status for the person with a chronic illness. The sample group was 51 chronically ill adults diagnosed with diabetes mellitus who attended diabetic instructions from one of the Central Indiana Hospitals. Findings indicated a weak positive correlation between self-care and cohesion and weak negative correlation between health status and cohesion. Findings also revealed significant differences between male and female for the variables self-care and conflict.Conclusions were that this study supported certain relationships proposed by Orem's conceptual model in nursing. Results can guide diabetics in providing optimal daily self-care. Professionals in the health care arena can utilize the results for educational development and encouragement of self-care agency in the adult diabetic. The family members can also clarify roles in supporting the diabetic adult.