Patients' dependence and independence levels on the prehospitalization-postdischarge continuum

Levels of dependence and independence were studied in 26 patients who had total hip or total knee replacement procedures. Four instruments--a three-situation questionnaire, Beller's Behavioral Checklist, the D-I Scale, and the Navran Dy portion of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--were administered. Tests were given at five times: prehospitalization, presurgery, postsurgery, predischarge, and postdischarge. Dependence and independence levels were found to change along the prehospital-postdischarge continuum, according to the stress of hospitalization and surgery. There was, however, no significant difference in dependence scores between the prehospitalization and postdischarge administrations of the scales.