Date of Award

Spring 1992

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Shaw, Christine

Second Advisor

Kovach, Christine

Third Advisor

Fadden, Theresa

Abstract

A descriptive correlational design was utilized to explore perceived uncertainty and quality of life in persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to determine the relationship of these two variables in this understudied client population. The research questions posed were : 1) What degree of uncertainty with its dimensions of ambiguity, complexity, inconsistency, and unpredictability, do persons with IBD experience? 2) What is the quality of life in persons with IBD? 3 ) What is the relationship between perceived uncertainty and quality of life in persons with IBD? 4) What is the relationship of age, sex , number of years of education, and length of time since diagnosis to perceived uncertainty in illness in persons with IBD? 5 ) What is the relationship of age, sex, number of years of education, and length of time since diagnosis to quality of life in persons with IBD? A convenience sample of 38 persons with IBD recruited from the Wisconsin Chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) and two gastroenterology clinics, completed and returned a mailed survey containing the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS), the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), and a demographic questionnaire. The sample was predominately female (63.2%), married (71.1%), and had a mean age of 42.5 years. The mean length of time since diagnosis was 16.05 years and the average years of education was 15.20 years. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's Product Moment correlations, and the t-test for independent samples. Scores for the MUIS range from 32 to 160. The mean level of uncertainty in this sample was 82.26 (SO= 20.19) with a sample range of 46 to 144. Scores for the IBDQ range from 32 to 224. The mean quality of life in this sample was 155.76 (SO= 38.35 ) with a sample range of 70-220. Uncertainty and quality of life demonstrated a significant negative relationship (r =-.53, p< .01. Years of education was negatively related to uncertainty ( r = -.41, p< .05), and positively related to quality of life (r = .38, p< .05). Age and length of time since diagnosis were not significantly related to either uncertainty or quality of life. The mean uncertainty scores for males (91 .64 ) and females (76.79) demonstrated a statistically significant difference. No differences in quality of life existed between males and females.

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