Date of Award
9-12-2008
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Biomedical Sciences
First Advisor
Landry, Richard G.
Abstract
Functional limitation rates are lower for American Indian and Alaskan Native elders although they experience higher rates of chronic disease. Research concerning the relationship between functional limitation, chronic disease and health risk factors among American Indian and Alaskan Native elder populations is limited. This paper contains results of an analysis of chronic disease's affect on functional limitation and the affect of health risk factors on chronic disease from a survey of 9,296 Native elders representing over 100 tribes from 88 sites. The self-reported data were gathered by elder providers using face-to-face interviewing and a standardized survey instrument. The sampling design employed systematic random sampling for larger tribes with smaller tribes (fewer than 200) getting all or the majority of their elders. The data suggest that chronic disease, demographics, and regional area of residence were statistically significant predictors of functional limitation among American Indian and Alaskan Native elders. Additionally, demographics, regional area of residence and certain health risk factors were predictive of higher levels of chronic disease.
Recommended Citation
McDonald, Leander Russell, "Risk factors, chronic disease, and functionality of Native American and Alaskan Native elder populations." (2008). Theses and Dissertations. 7937.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/7937