Removing some of the gray concerning the health of frail older women

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative pilot study was to investigate whether frail older women with a positive perception of health would desire to take a more active role in their health care. A related goal was to provide a rich description of their attitudes and factors that might govern their health perceptions. The study design was conducted using a feminist perspective for inquiry. The participants represented a convenience sample (n = 4), and their information was recorded as part of taking each patient's history prior to a sonographic examination. In the process of identifying areas of consensus between the older women, additional variables were shared. Relying on Wilson and Cleary's work on identifying areas of influence on perceptions of health, the interviews were guided to collect the participant' s unique conditions that corresponded to these areas. Responses during the interview were grouped under the headings of age, symptoms, social-psychological support, attitudes, independence, and social-economic support. Agreement was noted among the respondents on a need to be independent and on a sense of having good health. Consulting older women's medical charts and a researcher's personal journal allowed for triangulation of the data collected. A surprising result was that most of the data were new to the patient's record. It appeared that aspects of the social history for these patients had been neglected. Findings for this group indicated a desire to be more independent and more in control of their health care. Dialogue of the participants demonstrated a consistent wish to handle their affairs and also matched a positive health perception. The findings of the pilot study demonstrate a need for health care professionals and physicians to be more sensitive to the issues surrounding the health perceptions and social settings of frail older women. Further investigation and a larger cohort for a replication study are recommended.