Biomedical subjects

Melissa M Franks

Publications and source records attributed to Melissa M Franks.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Spouses' provision of health-related support and control to patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation.

The authors examined spouses' provision of health-related support and control as predictors of health behavior and mental health among patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation (N = 94 couples). Cross-sectional analyses revealed that spouses' support was positively associated with patient health behavior. Prospective analyses of change over 6 months (N = 65 couples) revealed that spouses' support predicted increased patient mental health, whereas spouses' control predicted decreased patient health behavior and mental health. Findings suggest that spouses' efforts to facilitate patients' healthy lifestyle behaviors are associated with patients' health behavior and mental health, but not always as spouses might intend.

Female↗

PubMed2005

A dyadic investigation of exercise support between cardiac patients and their spouses.

The authors examined married partners' similarity in reported exercise behavior as a moderator of the association between social support for exercise provided and received by extending an actor-partner dyadic effects model. Participants were married cardiac rehabilitation patients and their spouses (N=99 couples). For couples similar in their reported exercise behavior, a significant association was found between both partners' independent reports of providing exercise support to and receiving exercise support from one another (n=49 couples). However, for couples differing in their reported exercise behavior (n=50 couples), no association was found between either partner's provision and receipt of support for exercise. Findings have the potential to inform practitioners of patients who may not be receiving adequate social support for their recommended exercise. Future interventions may consider implementing dyadic educational or motivational strategies with patients and their spouses.

Cardiac Rehabilitation↗

PubMed2005

Moderating role of marital quality in older adults' depressed affect: beyond the main-effects model.

We examine the role of three indicators of marital quality (marital disagreement, marital happiness, and time spent together) as moderators of the association between physical disability and depressed affect among married older individuals (N=1,044). We found support for the moderating role of marital disagreement wherein the detrimental effect of disability on depressed affect was significantly heightened among older adults with more disagreements with their spouse; a moderating effect was not detected for marital happiness or time spent together. We conclude that, in addition to its main effect on older adults' depressed affect, marital quality (as indicated by marital disagreement) plays a significant stress-moderating role in the physical disability-depressed affect link.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

Communication and informed consent.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To examine recent cancer research literature on the extent to which effective communication with adult and pediatric patients and their surrogates occurs during the informed consent process. RECENT FINDINGS: The limited recent empirical evidence found reveals several gaps in knowledge about the quality and process of communication and informed consent. Although commentary and recommendations about the process are available, little is known regarding the actual ways in which treatment and clinical trial information is explained by oncologists (and/or other healthcare providers) to patients and/or their authorized representatives. The few studies reported show wide differences in the ways the process is conducted in differing oncology settings (i.e., academic compared with community clinics), with different types of patients (i.e., adults and children), and in different cultural contexts. SUMMARY: Despite the identified shortcomings in the ways the communication process is transacted and the relative paucity of empirical studies, nearly all investigators and authors agree that personal interaction between healthcare providers and patients (or surrogates) is critical to maintaining the integrity and ethical standards necessary to achieve informed consent.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

PubMed2003

Spouses' and physicians' perceptions of pain severity in older women with osteoarthritis: dyadic agreement and patients' well-being.

This study examined agreement between patients and two role partners (spouses and physicians) on patients' pain severity and the relationships between dyadic agreement and patients' well-being. We hypothesized that compared to disagreement between patients and role partners, dyadic agreement would be related to better psychological well-being (more disease-specific self-efficacy and positive affect, and less depression). Participants were 114 older women with osteoarthritis, their caregiving husbands, and their rheumatologists. Among patient-spouse dyads, agreement was associated with better well-being, especially when compared to spouses' underestimation of patients' pain. Contrary to predictions, patient-physician agreement was not related to better patient well-being. Agreement between patients and physicians was associated with less (rather than more) self-efficacy and positive affect when compared to physicians' underestimation of patients' pain.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

It takes two: marriage and smoking cessation in the middle years.

OBJECTIVES: In this prospective study of smoking cessation among married individuals in midlife we examine correspondence in the change of each partner's smoking status with that of the other, independent of established psychosocial correlates of smoking cessation. METHODS: Using longitudinal data from the first two waves of the Health and Retirement Study, 1992-1994, hierarchical logistic regression models were estimated for married male and female smokers separately. RESULTS: Findings support our hypothesis of correspondence in the smoking cessation of married male and female smokers net of other sociodemographic, health, and health behavior characteristics. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that initiation and maintenance of this positive lifestyle change may be more easily achieved when both marital partners are given information and support to quit smoking at the same time.

Female↗

PubMed2002

Health-related interactions and the self in marriage.

This study investigated the association between self processes and married partners' (N = 59 couples) perspectives of their health-related social interactions. Findings revealed that wives' self processes were associated with their social behavior from the perspective of each partner. The wives' self processes differentially predicted wives' and husbands' perspectives of their interactions, however. These findings demonstrate that wives' future expectations for the health of their husband, as well as for their role in maintaining his future health, motivate their current social behavior to promote the positive health lifestyle behaviors of their husband.

Aged↗