Date of Award
Fall 1985
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Stollenwerk, Ruth M.
Second Advisor
Hungelmann, JoAnn
Third Advisor
Schank, Mary Jane
Abstract
A ten-item questionnaire was administered to 30 COPD patients in an effort to determine how the COPD patient responds to intrusions of personal space. A measure of the patient's uncomfortable distance zone was also obtained. Research questions were: At what distances are COPD patients comfortable having their nurse near them?, Do personal space boundaries change as severity of disease increases?, and, Do the variables age, sex, or race affect patient response to intrusions of personal space? The researcher found that the overall response to intrusions of personal space by a nurse was favorable. Patients indicated they were most comfortable with their nurse two to three feet from them. The variables age and sex did not affect patient response to intrusions of personal space; there was insufficient data to determine whether race would affect responses. The data did not indicate that personal space boundaries changed as severity of disease increased. Two thirds of the patients described feelings indicating anxiety in the situation in which the nurse gets too close to them, leaving the researcher to conclude that a patient's perception of an anxiety provoking intrusion of personal space may differ from a nurse's perception, and that response to intrusion of personal space is individual.
Recommended Citation
Young, Patricia, "Response of COPD Patients to Intrusions of Personal Space : A Descriptive Study" (1985). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 4080.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/4080