A Framework for Studying the Nutritional Health of Community-Dwelling Elders
Resource
NURSING RESEARCH v.54 n.1 pp.13-21
Journal
NURSING RESEARCH
Journal Volume
v.54
Journal Issue
n.1
Pages
13-21
Date Issued
2005
Date
2005
Author(s)
CHEN, CHIA-HUI
Abstract
Background: Ensuring nutritional health for elders has been shown to reduce health care costs and enhance quality of life. Studies, however, have revealed that malnutrition is present in 2-51% of community-dwelling elders, depending on the definition used and the population studied. An empirically tested framework is not yet available for studying nutritional health in community-dwelling elders. Objectives: The objective of this study was to test the goodness-of-fit of the Roy Adaptation Model (RAM) based framework of nutritional health in community-dwelling elders , using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Methods: A population-based study was conducted on 243 public housing dwelling elders. Demographics, polypharmacy, chronic illness , oral health, depressive symptoms, functional status, and satisfaction with social support were assessed in order to test their relationship with nutritional health based on the propositions of RAM and scientific evidence. Results: The SEM analysis indicated that functional status, oral health, depressive symptoms, and satisfaction with social support affected nutritional health directly. Oral health, depressive symptoms, functional status and satisfaction with support mediated the effects of age, ethnicity, education, and number of medications and chronic illnesses on nutritional health. The model accounted for 35% of the variance in nutritional health, demonstrated a good fit with the data, and with values for Bentler’s Comparative Fit Index (0.94) and 2 ( 1.76). Conclusions: The propositions of the Roy Adaptation Model were supported, and the finding showed this framework of nutritional health among community- dwelling elders could serve as a theoretical and empirical base for future inquiry. Key words: nutrition, nursing theory, aged