Developing a scale to measure denial levels of clients with actual or potential myocardial infarctions.
OBJECTIVE
To refine and test the Robinson Self-Appraisal Inventory-Form D (RSAI-Form D), a self-administered scale designed to measure denial in coronary clients.


METHODS
Exploratory research.


METHODS
Two midwestern medical centers.


METHODS
The sample was composed of 130 patients 75 years of age and younger with actual or potential myocardial infarction.


METHODS
Two instruments, the Demographic Data Form and the RSAI-Form D, were completed by the participants.


RESULTS
Cronbach's coefficient alpha, factor analysis, t test, and stepwise multiple regression were used in the data analysis. A coefficient alpha for the 20-item scale was 0.80 for both Day 2 and Day 4. Day 2 and Day 4 oblique rotations revealed that items loaded on four factors but did not load on the same factors for both days: therefore, factors were identified for each day. There was a significant decrease in RSAI-Form D scores from the second to fourth hospitalized day (t = 5.83, p = 0.001). Two predictors, number of prior hospitalizations of chest pain, and whether or not the individual had sustained a myocardial infarction this admission (identified by stepwise multiple regression) explained 9.4% of the variance in the change in RSAI-Form D scores from Day 2 to Day 4 (F[2, 127] = 6.55, p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of the study did provide preliminary evidence that the RSAI-Form D is a reliable and valid inventory. Four aspects of denial were extracted, thus providing supportive evidence to the nurse that the use of single specific or global criteria does not provide sufficient data for assessing denial.
Robinson
K R
KR
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Fargo, ND 58102.
D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales