THE ALBRECHT NURSING MODEL FOR HOME HEALTH-CARE - PREDICTORS OF HEALTH-STATUS OUTCOMES IN WORKING ADULTS

The health profile of American adults is heavily influenced by lifestyle behaviors. Therefore, working adults have a unique opportunity to take personal action to decrease their risk of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses and to improve their health status outcomes. Health status outcomes of working adults were evaluated through this quantitative study. Four structural variables (demographics, psychologic status, social status, and economic status), two modifying variables (access and cost), and three process variables (preventive care, including exercise/nutrition/stress management; client involvement; and family involvement) were examined as to their relationship to health status outcomes (client perception of health, amount of exercise, body mass index, and percent body fat). Results support the importance of the variables in the Albrecht nursing model in explaining health status outcomes in working adults. These factors may therefore be suitable targets for interventions to encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors at home. Nursing administrators, occupational health nurses, and home health nurses can use these findings to guide effective planning for wellness programs in the home and work setting.