Author

Karen Nabors

Abstract

This w a s a d e s c r ip tiv e s tu d y d e s ig n e d to d e te rm in e if th e re w a s a c o rre la tio n b e tw e e n a g e an d th e c o m p le x ity of drug re g im e n s an d to s e e if th e e ld e r ly w e re a t a g r e a te r r is k for d is r u p tio n o f h e a lt h d u e to m e d ic a tio n s th a n th e m id d le -a g e d g ro u p . The r e s e a r c h e r h y p o th e s iz e d th a t th e re w o u ld be no s ig n if ic a n t d iffe re n c e b e tw e e n a g e an d th e c o m p le x ity o f th e drug r e g im e n s , an d th a t th e r e w o u ld b e no s ig n if ic a n t d iff e r e n c e b e tw e e n m id d le - a g e d a n d e ld e r ly a d u l t s ' l e v e l o f r is k for d e v e lo p m e n t o f d is ru p tio n o f p h y s ic a l h e a lth d u e to drug r e g im e n s . A re s e a r c h e r - de s ig n e d to o l w a s a d m in is te re d to 2 7 m id d le -a g e d a d u lts b e tw e e n th e a g e s of 30 to 5 9 , a n d to 36 e ld e rly a d u lts b e tw e e n th e a g e s o f 60 to 9 0 . There w a s a t o t a l o f 63 p a r t i c i p a n t s . The to t a l c o n s i s t e d o f 3 b la c k m a l e s , 17 w h ite m a le s , 11 b la c k f e m a le s , an d 32 w h ite f e m a le s . The f i r s t n u ll h y p o th e s is w a s t e s t e d by c o r re la tin g a g e w ith th e c o m p le x ity o f drug r e g im e n s . The P e a r s o n 's R c o r r e la tio n c o e f f ic ie n t w a s u s e d to a n a ly z e th e d a ta c o l l e c t e d . B e c a u se th e o b ta in e d r v a lu e w a s .1 5 5 9 a n d n o t s ig n if ic a n t a t th e .05 l e v e l , th e r e s e a r c h e r f a ile d to r e j e c t th e n u ll h y p o t h e s i s . The s e c o n d n u ll h y p o th e s is w a s t e s t e d by co m p arin g th e s c o r e s for d is r u p tio n o f p h y s ic a l h e a lth of m id d le - a g e d a n d e ld e r ly a d u l t s . The ^ t e s t w a s u tiliz e d for co m p arin g th e m ean s c o r e s a t th e .05 l e v e l of s i g n i f i c a n c e . The o b ta in e d v a lu e w a s - 3 . 7 1 . S in c e t h i s v a lu e w a s s ig n i f i c a n t a t th e .0 1 l e v e l , th e r e s e a r c h e r r e j e c t e d th e n u ll h y p o t h e s i s .

Degree

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Department

Graduate Nursing

Degree Date

12-1-1983

Publication Number

27924554

First Advisor

Mary Patricia Curtis

Second Advisor

Phyllis Werner

Document Type

Thesis

Included in

Nursing Commons

COinS