title: Meaning in heart disease: measuring the search for meaning.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to test the psychometric properties of a new measure, the Meaning in Heart Disease instrument (MHD), in persons who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Within 1 year of PCI, 232 persons completed the MHD and construct validity measures (SF-36v2, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Study aims were examined using reliability analysis, factor analysis, and correlations. After factor analysis, four scales reflecting the theoretical concepts central to the conceptual framework of the instrument emerged--Disrupted Meaning (alpha = .93), Refocusing Global Meaning (alpha = .92), Searching for Answers (alpha = .82), and Ignoring Heart Disease (alpha = .77). Convergent and divergent validity was supported, in part, for all scales. The MHD had strong support for its validity and will be useful in testing nursing interventions aimed at helping individuals integrate heart disease into the life experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. Brenda.skaggs@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Brenda G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Skaggs
authors.forename: Bernice C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Melody
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hertzog
authors.forename: Cecilia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Barron
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Bunny
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pozehl
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014481:United States