Biomedical subjects

Margaret P Moss

Publications and source records attributed to Margaret P Moss.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Using GIS in a first national mapping of functional disability among older American Indians and Alaska Natives from the 2000 census.

BACKGROUND: Geographical information systems (GIS) have been used mainly in understanding infectious diseases and environmental threats in health research. Here, GIS was used to examine patterns of functional disability as one impact of chronic disease in American Indians and Alaska Natives. The study purpose was to create the first national mapping of functional disability for AIANs using the 2000 U.S. Census. RESULTS: American Indians and Alaska Natives over age 65 reported disability at a rate of 57.6% versus 41.9% for all people over 65 (P < or = 0.0001). Regional differences in levels and type of disability were evident. CONCLUSION: Maps help visualize those who might otherwise be 'lost' from the data. The significance of this study is that gerontologic programs and policies are data-driven, yet there is a lack of reliable national level data from US health systems on functional disability among American Indians and Alaska Natives. One study limitation was that Census questions regarding disability differed from traditional measures of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. An immediate policy recommendation would be to incorporate standard activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living language into future Census for a comprehensive, linked database for the future.

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PubMed2005

TOLERATED ILLNESS concept and theory for chronically ill and elderly patients as exemplified in American Indians.

BACKGROUND: The TOLERATED ILLNESS phenomenon refers to a noted discordance between subjective and objective health measures in the chronically ill patient. The TOLERATED ILLNESS theory of care helps explain why some patients will report good to excellent health in spite of their having low functional ability. METHODS: TI facilitates provider recognition of this largely unrecognized phenomenon and is instructive as to the why's for the patient tolerating illness. RESULTS: The goal of presenting this theory is to provide a way to identify, assess, and assist those previously silent with unmet needs to bring about optimum patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Importantly, patient and provider goals may diverge.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2004

Functional disability and associated factors among older Zuni Indians.

Few studies have focused on American Indian elderly and functional disability, and none have explored potential moderating or mediating factors that may lend themselves to subsequent intervention. The purpose of this study was to describe the extent of functional disability in elders and to determine which factors were associated with a higher number of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) limitations. The study was a secondary data analysis of an existing survey of American Indian elders in one southwest tribe. Functional disability was defined as limitations in ADLs and was measured by the percent of respondents reporting specific limitations and by the mean total ADL limitations. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the demographic, socioeconomic and health factors associated with ADL limitations. In the 90 elders surveyed, 40 percent of respondents reported a limitation with bathing, 31 percent with walking, and 22 percent with dressing. Only 6 percent of the elders surveyed, however, reported their health status as "poor" on a 5-point scale. Factors associated with more ADL limitations included poorer health status, less frequent exercise, and more elder care services used. Rates of functional disability in this tribe were higher than those found in the U.S. for all races. Further studies are needed to understand functional disability in American Indian elders and their need for long-term care services.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

GIS(c): a scientific framework and methodological tool for nursing research.

The purpose of this article was to bring to nursing science a theoretical framework and technology that can transport with it new ways of knowing by exploiting microperspectives and macroperspectives, both from "within the map" and globally. Nursing continues to find its voice, but it also must lend its voice to the forming of Geographic Information Systems and Science in a pan-disciplinary partnership with geography, cartography, sociology, public health, and information technology. It is proposed that nursing take advantage of the latest databases that hold "person" information and layer these over geographical maps holding "environment" and "health" information as a new way of seeing and applying the metaparadigms of nursing. By using Geographic Information Systems for understanding spatial, numeric, health, and population relationships as they relate to nursing practice, research, and teaching, nursing science will continue to evolve at a speed needed to be effective in the new millennia.

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