Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Shari L. Jorissen

Abstract

The use of mobile integrated healthcare-community paramedicine (MIH-CP) has the potential to be integrated into existing chronic disease management initiatives as a means of reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and costs as well as improving quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between demographics, noncommunicable disease type (NCD), and changes in self-perceived, self-reported QOL for those who have participated in an MIH-CP program. The research design for this study was a pretest/posttest design using secondary data that were obtained from a research partner using the MIH-CP intervention and collecting QOL data using the Euroqol QOL survey (EQ-5D-3L) (N = 645). The health belief model was the theoretical foundation of this study. Multiple linear regressions results did not show statistically significant relationships among all of the independent variables (i.e., gender, NCD type, days in MIH, age, and hospital admission status) and the dependent variable of self-reported, perceived QOL. Paired sample t tests showed a statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores of self-reported, perceived QOL (p = .000). The results of this study could be used to provide preliminary support for the use of the MIH-CP program. In addition, further investigation of the MIH-CP intervention as a tool for mitigating the human and financial costs associated with management of NCDs and QOL perceptions should be pursued. Positive social change implications include the possible reduction of expenditures for NCDs and human suffering as well as the possible improvement in QOL for those with NCDs.

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