Appraisal of uncertainty while waiting for a kidney transplant

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dc.contributor.advisorAlligood, Martha Raileen_US
dc.contributor.authorPelletier, Janeten_US
dc.contributor.departmentNursingen_US
dc.date.accessioned2013-01-15T12:39:27Z
dc.date.available2014-01-31T13:06:19Z
dc.date.issued2012en_US
dc.description.abstractThis study tested a middle range nursing theory to better understand the experience of uncertainty in deceased-donor kidney transplant candidates with a goal of identifying ways to improve the care of persons by nurses as they await kidney transplant. From Mishel's Reconceptualized Uncertainty in Illness Theory a middle range theory was developed that proposes that deceased-donor kidney transplant candidates show growth through uncertainty as Mishel describes, waiting time for a transplant is related to the level of uncertainty, and growth through uncertainty is related to both waiting time and level of uncertainty in deceased-donor kidney transplant candidates. A descriptive survey research design was used to address two research questions: Do deceased-donor kidney transplant candidates experience growth through uncertainty as Mishel's Reconceptualized Uncertainty in Illness Theory proposes? What are the relationships among waiting time, level of uncertainty, and growth through uncertainty for deceased-donor kidney transplant candidates?  The study sample was adults who: volunteered to participate, were English speaking and were actively waiting for a deceased-donor kidney transplant. A convenience sample of 134 deceased-donor kidney transplant candidates was recruited through dialysis clinics, an electronic message posted on a National Kidney Foundation message board, and a mailing to deceased- donor transplant candidates registered with a transplant center. A strength of the study was the sample size and the sub-sample of 103 African American persons.   Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Community version was used to measure uncertainty and the Growth through Uncertainty Scale quantified growth through uncertainty. The relationships among waiting time, level of uncertainty and growth through uncertainty were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients. The independent-groups t-test was used to compare those waiting above and below the national median time to transplant.   Of the proposed relationships, a significant positive relationship between waiting time and growth through uncertainty was found. The findings provide further description of the uncertainty experienced by transplant candidates who are waiting for a deceased-donor kidney. The present study also supports the concept of growth through uncertainty when sustained uncertainty is present, contributing to the development of Mishel's Reconceptualized Uncertainty in Illness Theory.  en_US
dc.description.degreePh.D.en_US
dc.format.extent113 p.en_US
dc.format.mediumdissertations, academicen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10342/4054
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherEast Carolina Universityen_US
dc.subjectNursingen_US
dc.subjectTransplant candidateen_US
dc.subjectUncertaintyen_US
dc.subjectWaitingen_US
dc.subject.meshKidney Failure, Chronic--psychology
dc.subject.meshKidney Transplantation--psychology
dc.subject.meshWaiting Lists
dc.subject.meshCommunication
dc.subject.meshPatients--statistics & numerical data
dc.subject.meshPatients--psychology
dc.subject.meshNursing--standards
dc.subject.meshOrgan Transplantation--nursing
dc.subject.meshClinical Competence--standards
dc.subject.meshNursing Care--standards
dc.subject.meshNursing Theory
dc.subject.meshModels, Nursing
dc.subject.meshNursing Research
dc.subject.meshPhilosophy, Nursing
dc.subject.meshTrust
dc.subject.meshPhysician-Patient Relations
dc.subject.meshHealth
dc.subject.meshWork--psychology
dc.subject.meshQuality of Life--psychology
dc.subject.meshAdaptation, Psychological
dc.subject.meshAnomie
dc.subject.meshConcept Formation
dc.subject.meshCues
dc.subject.meshDisease--psychology
dc.subject.meshModels, Psychological
dc.subject.meshPsychological Theory
dc.subject.meshSocial Values
dc.subject.meshDirected Tissue Donation
dc.titleAppraisal of uncertainty while waiting for a kidney transplanten_US
dc.typeDoctoral Dissertationen_US

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