142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

299402
Adaptability in Aging Patients: Demonstrating Proof of Concept and Identifying Opportunities for Pre-Procedural Intervention

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Sharon Johnson-Hakim, Ph.D. , Atlantic Center for Population Health Sciences, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ
Chris Kirk, Ph.D. , Atlantic Center for Population Health Sciences, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ
Chloe Bland, Ph.D. , Psychology Program, College of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ
Michelle McCoy Barrett, Ph.D. , College of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ
Jamie Lynn Pytko, MA , Psychology Department, College of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ
William Neigher, Ph.D. , Atlantic Center for Population Health Sciences, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ
In the current study, researchers hypothesize that, in the US, patients that make the best recovery from illness or injury are neither those with the most doctors, nor those with the most health care, but rather, those most adaptable to change.  The concept of adaptability, operationally defined as the ratio of resilience to vulnerability, accounts for both resilience factors (including social connectedness, patient engagement, and health literacy) as well as potential vulnerabilities (including co-morbidities and perceived stress) and presents them in a way that encourages medical professionals to think beyond the elements of a traditional medical chart (Connor & Davidson, 2003; Curtis & Cicchetti, 2003; Luthar, Cicchetti & Becker, 2000; Masten, 2001; Zautra, Hall & Murray, 2008). 

Building on a previously-published conceptual model of patient adaptability (Neigher and Hakim, 2012), the current study examines adaptability in aging patients and its predictive relationship with recovery after surgery.  Two patient populations were included: orthopedic patients undergoing total joint replacement (N=150), and cardiac patients undergoing open heart surgery (data collection begins 3/2014).  An adaptability battery was built from existing, well-validated instruments and administered pre-procedure.  Follow-up instruments included measures of functional health status (SF-12) and depression (PHQ-9).  The goal of the study is to establish predictive validity, so we can understand, prior to treatment, how well a patient is likely to do.  This knowledge will enable us to develop targeted interventions that the healthcare system can implement in partnership with community organizations to build patient adaptability and promote positive outcomes for elderly patients.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Differentiate between the concept of “patient adaptability” and traditional, medically-centered risk factor analyses List three high-impact areas for pre-procedural intervention to increase adaptability in aging patients Discuss the role of community partners and social service agencies in pre-procedural interventions

Keyword(s): Aging, Screening Instruments

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Community Psychologist whose research specializes in prevention and health promotion. I have 5 years experience working on topics related to building individual and community level resilience and assets; my work focuses on intervening to enhance positive factors, rather than minimizing risk factors.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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