Image--the journal of nursing scholarship
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To identify major problems that obscure understanding of quality of life; to differentiate quality of life from other closely related concepts, and to offer a definition of quality of life. Quality of life is a term frequently used, but seldom defined, in nursing research. Multiple interpretations and measures make evaluating research difficult. The need to clarify concepts, develop nursing theory, and enhance communication is significant. Concept clarification is also essential for research instrument development and evaluation. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT AND SCOPE: Concept analysis as proposed by Walker and Avant. Preconceived theories were avoided to keep the analysis as unbiased as possible. The analyst considered many descriptions of quality of life, but eventually included only those in the scientific literature. ⋯ A model showing the relationships among quality of life, well-being, functional status, and satisfaction with life is provided and a definition of quality of life is offered. Researchers and authors should include the definition of quality of life used in their work. Instruments should reflect the theoretic definition used. Care should be taken to clarify if functional status, well-being, satisfaction with life are the concepts under consideration as reflecting a part of overall quality of life.
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A review of nursing research into the impairment of sleep in the critically ill is presented. The author asserts that in order to fully explicate the phenomena from a nursing perspective, research is needed that focuses upon the meaning of the phenomenon to the patient.
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Homelessness in the United States continues to be a major social problem directly affecting an estimated three million persons, of whom nearly 30 percent belong to families without permanent shelter. This paper reviews recent research concerning homeless families and the conditions in which they live and outlines the significant health and mental health problems that these families experience. Effective nursing interventions for homeless families using Peszneckers' Model of Poverty are proposed. Nurses must advocate for changes in the social and political conditions that bring about homelessness since the resources to meet the needs of these families are either nonexistent or woefully inadequate.