STRUCTURED GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP EFFECT ON OLDER ADULTS

描述：（改编自申请人摘要）配偶死亡 是人生中最具毁灭性的事件之一 婚姻丧亲 老年人的特点是情绪困扰，身体症状， 保健服务的使用增加，发病率和死亡率提高 未亡配偶的比例。 有效的丧亲干预措施可以 对减轻悲伤强度有着重要的长期影响， 改善健康。 然而，现有的研究包括少数研究 评估各种干预措施的有效性。 本研究 将采用定量和定性的方法来比较疗效 两种不同类型的丧亲干预计划：标准 临终关怀，包括邮寄的丧亲之痛 文献、电话联系、临终关怀团队成员进行的1次家访， 以及邀请参加季度开放支持小组;并加强 丧亲关怀，由一个封闭的结构化支持小组组成， 每周开会一次，持续6周，由训练有素的专业人士领导。 具体目标是：l）比较增强的 标准临终关怀丧亲干预计划 减轻老年丧亲者悲伤强度和改善其健康的护理 随着时间的推移，临终关怀患者的配偶，以及2）描述人口统计学 变量（性别、种族、教育程度、患病时间和患病时间） 婚姻），这与两组的悲伤强度和健康状况有关 失去亲人的老年人。 一个准实验重复测量 一个干预前和三个干预后的析因设计 将使用测量。 丧偶老年人（N=162）， 丧亲1-2个月，60岁以上，能用英语交流， 将被随机分配到两个干预组（标准组和 增强）6周。 悲伤强度将使用 将测量修订的悲伤经历量表（RGEI）和健康状况 使用Rosencranz健康指数和10分的Likert量表Cantril 干预前后以及干预后6个月和12个月的阶梯 干预 主要统计分析将采用ANCOVA， 2x2 x2 x4（组x性别x人种x时间）重复测量，协变量 （教育、疾病时间和婚姻时间） 多元线性逐步回归 根据重要的主要和 相互作用效应，将运行适当的事后检验。 结果 将确定一个封闭的结构化支持小组的影响， 减少悲伤强度，促进老年人的积极健康 黑人和白色男人和女人。 性别和种族相似性 随着时间的推移，悲伤强度和健康状况的差异 鉴定

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from applicants abstract) The death of a spouse is one of the most devastating life events. Conjugal bereavement in older adults is characterized by emotional distress, physical symptoms, increased use of health services, and a higher morbidity and mortality rate in surviving spouses. Effective bereavement interventions can have significant long term implications for reducing grief intensity and improving health. However, existing research consists of few studies which evaluate the effectiveness of various interventions. This study will use quantitative and qualitative methods to compare the efficacy of two different types of bereavement intervention programs: standard hospice bereavement care which consists of mailed bereavement literature, phone contact, 1 home visit made by a hospice team member, and an invitation to a quarterly open support group; and enhanced bereavement care which consists of a closed structured support group that meets once a week for 6 weeks and is led by a trained professional. Specific aims are to: l) Compare the efficacy of an enhanced bereavement intervention program to the standard hospice bereavement care in reducing grief intensity and improving health of older bereaved spouses of hospice patients over time, and 2) Describe the demographic variables (gender, race, education, length of illness, and length of marriage) which correlate with grief intensity and health in both groups of older bereaved adults. A quasi experimental repeated measures factorial design with one preintervention and three postintervention measurements will be used. Conjugally bereaved older adults (N=162), bereaved 1-2 months, over age 60 and able to communicate in English, will be randomly assigned to the two intervention groups (Standard and Enhanced) for 6 weeks. Grief intensity will be measured using the Revised Grief Experience Inventory (RGEI) and health will be measured using the Rosencranz Health Index and a 10 point Likert Scale Cantril Ladder pre and post intervention, and at 6 months and 12 months post intervention. Primary statistical analysis will be the ANCOVA of 2x2x2x4 (group x gender x race x time) repeated measures with covariates (education, length of illness, and length of marriage) retained from multiple linear stepwise regression. Based on significant main and interaction effects, appropriate post hoc tests will be run. Results will identify the effects of a closed structured support group on reducing grief intensity and promoting the positive health of older black and white men and women over time. Gender and racial similarities and differences in grief intensity and health over time will be identified.