Page 311 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

278 n MEASUREMENT AND SCALES

The largest general factor accounting for and other consequences of these decisions
pregnancy adaptation for men and women for the child and the family. The involvement
M (Durkin, Morse, & Buist, 2001) was psycho- of men in pregnancy is increasingly recog-
logical dysphoria (i.e., anxiety, anger, and nized as significant to pregnancy outcomes.
gender role stress). The remaining factors Researchers (Genesoni & Tallandini, 2009)
influenced adaptation of both partners but cited the significance of psychological reorga-
varied in gender proportions: individual nization of the self for men during pregnancy
relationship functioning, social support and self-image transformation, triadic rela-
from family and friends, and recalled qual- tionship development, and social environ-
ity of childhood family relationship, which mental influences. Partner relationship and
are supported by other research (Finger, environmental work-related challenges also
Hans, Bernstein, & Cox, 2009; Fonagy, Steele, are struggles for new families.
& Steele, 1991). These variables accounted Finally, the complex, challenging deci-
for 46.5% of the variance for prenatal psy- sion-making processes of families expecting
chosocial adaptation. The results underscore PTB or VLBW infants (Kavanaugh, Moro,
the need for assessment and interventions, Savage, Reyes, & Wydra, 2009) are addressed.
particularly for individual and for marital Parents and families need assistance in mak-
and parental relationship factors. Nurses ing decisions about life support and care
can address these needs through continuing after birth. Nurses have a significant role in
education workshops to advance their psy- assisting families with these challenges, and
chotherapy knowledge and skills to conduct by compassionately imparting information to
individual and couple relationship therapy. enable parents to make treatment decisions
Jallo, Bray, Padden, and Levin (2009) have that may have lifelong consequences for the
provided positive evidence of PTB birth out- health of all family members.
comes through nurse home visitation with a
37% reduction in PTB compared with women Regina Placzek Lederman
not receiving the program. The program
included dietary improvement, counseling
for family communication, and improved
patterns of prenatal care. Similar results are MeasureMent and scales
cited others (Goering, 2009). The significance
of nurse psychosocial and psychotherapy
contributions to PTB prevention deserves The focus of measurement is the quantifica-
substantial attention from health care deliv- tion of a characteristic or attribute of a per-
ery organization providers. son, object, or event. Measurement provides
3. Strengthening families. Research para- for a consistent and meaningful interpreta-
digms (Lu, 2010) suggest foci for optimization tion of the nature of an attribute when the
of health care across the life span, including same measurement process or instrument
social determinants, increased access to high is used. The results of measurement are
quality health care, and community preven- usually expressed in the form of numbers.
tion and wellness programs to strengthening Measurement is a systematic process that
families. uses rules to assign numbers to persons,
objects, or events, which represent the amount
Examining couple intentions for preg- or kind of a specified attribute (Pedhazur &
nancy and particularly their relationship has Schmelkin, 1991; Waltz, Strickland, & Lenz,
critical implications for father involvement and 2010). However, measurement also involves
maternal seeking of prenatal care (Hohmann- identifying and specifying common aspects
Marriott, 2009) as well as potential life health of attributes for meaningful interpretation