Model test of the relationship between self‐help‐promoting nursing interventions and self‐care and health status outcomes

Abstract
In this study of a nursing intervention outcomes model was tested. Path analysis techniques were used to examine predicted relationships between self-help-promoting interventions and patient outcomes of self-care practice and client morbidity at three times. A sample of 307 women receiving medical treatment for breast cancer provided data for the study. The average participant was White, middle-aged, married, educated, and in stage I or stage II disease. Findings support the hypothesized model linking these nursing interventions directly to self-care outcomes and self-care to client morbidity outcomes. Client factors of age, social network size, disease stage, receipt of chemotherapy, resourcefulness, and uncertainty significantly influenced predicted relationships. Examination of specific patterns of relationships for the sample revealed delayed behavioral responses to the interventions, variability in predictors of each outcome at the three measurement times and a more strongly predictive model when patient outcomes were considered within the context of client factors. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 27:97–109, 2004