Well-being and concerns of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease

Peripheral arterial obstructive disease (AOD) affects an estimated 2.4 million persons in the United States, resulting in disability, morbidity, and even death in the elderly. Insight into the general well-being (GWB) of patients who have AOD can enhance the comprehensiveness of nursing care provided to these patients. GWB was examined in a study of 170 patients with peripheral AOD treated at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The GWB instrument constructed by Dupuy and used extensively by the Rand Corporation was administered to provide an objective measure of well-being. Two open-ended questions regarding patients' concerns associated with their AOD provided more subjective information. The mean GWB score for the VAMC patients was lower than the mean score reported by the Rand Corporation for a group of healthy individuals, and this lent support to the construct validity of the instrument. The general health and vitality subscales appeared to have the widest difference in mean scores. Within the VAMC patient sample, GWB did not vary among age groups but did vary slightly in an inverse direction with the severity of the circulatory impairment. The concerns noted included fear of increased pain, lack of mobility, and fear of amputation.