2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

Home Events & Meetings Annual Meeting Schedule & Program

Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

333946
Intensity of Need of Women Experiencing Life Transitions Receiving Public Health Nursing Home Visitation


Monday, November 2, 2015 : 12:45 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Katherine L. Kaiser, PhD, RN, PHCNS, BC, Omaha Division, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Nursing, Omaha, NE
Margaret Kaiser, PhD, RN, Community Based Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, Omaha, NE
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background:  Practice priorities for public health nursing (PHN) s emphasize care to populations with high need levels, vulnerability and limited access to health care services. Life transitions, such as becoming a mother, diagnosis of chronic illness and loss of a spouse impacts needs and vulnerability. There are no known studies that have quantified the need for PHN care during life transitions.

Methods:  A secondary analysis of existing longitudinal (2000-2012) PHN home visit data using the Community Health Nursing Intensity Rating Scale (CHIRS).©  The purpose of the study was to determine the intensity of need for PHN care of community dwelling women ages 18-52 (pre-menopause) who were, or were not experiencing a life transition.

Results:  Women who were experiencing one or more life transitions (n=111) had significantly higher intensity of need for care total scores (p=.000), than the no transition group (n=49). The mean age of the sample was 31.46 (SD= 10.67). The majority were married (57%) and Caucasian (67%). The mean number of home visits completed was 6.46 (SD=2.84).

Conclusions:  Transition is an important theoretical concept in PHN as it affects intensity of need for PHN care in community dwelling women based on this study. Also, the CHIRS is a useful tool for determining intensity of need for care in women experiencing transition. Further research is needed to examine preventive and therapeutic interventions to reduce intensity levels during life transitions in women.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related nursing
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Assess the relationship of intensity of need for public health nursing care and life transitions in women.

Keyword(s): Nurses/Nursing, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted other research related to public health nursing and women's health and have published in this area. I also teach public health and public health nursing as undergraduate and graduate levels in a university setting.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3286.0: Maternal Child Health