Deborah Messecar, R.N., Ph.D., M.P.H.

My program of research focuses on family caregiving for chronically ill older adults, and family responses to returning veterans coping with chronic anxiety symptoms. My methodological expertise is in the use of NVIVO for qualitative and mixed methods data analysis.

EDUCATION

PhD, Major: Gerontological Nursing, Oregon Health & Sciences School of Nursing
MPH, Major: Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Oregon Health & Sciences School of Medicine
MS, Major: Nursing: Adult Nurse Practitioner, University of Portland School of Nursing
BS, Nursing, University of Colorado Health & Science Center

Funded RESEARCH

Tri-Services Nursing Research Grant, (N05-015) TSNRP DOD. Messecar (PI) 7/1/05-6/30/10
Family Reintegration Following Guard Deployment
The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe veterans and families perceptions of their experience with family reintegration and the challenges reintegration presents among Guard members deployed since the start of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.
Role: Principal Investigator

Tri-Services Nursing Research Grant, (N99-032). TSNRP DOD. Messecar (PI)
Virtual Health and Wellness Center for the Air National Guard
A cross-sectional survey of ORANG members was used to examine the feasibility of developing a virtual health and wellness center in the Oregon Air National Guard (ORANG). The survey asked about the health behaviors members wanted to change, and explored their current access to, and potential use of, the Internet to make these changes.
Role: Principal Investigator

American Nurses Foundation (ID#: 98-106), ANF Messecar (PI)
Environmental Modification Information for Caregivers
The purpose of this study was to assess family caregivers of older adults challenges associated with getting information about possible home modification strategies.
Role: Principal Investigator

NINR, F31 (NRO7047-01,02, 03) Messecar (PI)
Environmental Modifications Strategies Caregivers Use
The goal of this study was to describe environmental modification strategies used by family caregivers of chronically ill elders, how caregivers rated the effectiveness of the strategies they used, and the contextual factors that supported making environmental modifications.
Role: Principal Investigator

Tri-Services Nursing Research Grant (N93-006) Messecar (PI)
Family Stress During Wartime Separation
Grounded theory methods were used to describe the effect of the Persian Gulf War separation on guard and reserve spouses. Various patterns of coming to term with the separation were described.
Role: Principal Investigator

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS 

Messecar D. Powers, B. & Nagel, C. (2008). Try this: The Family Preferences Index (FPRI).  American Journal of Nursing, 108(9), 52-60.

Messecar D. Nursing counts. Family caregivers and home improvements: there may be a knowledge gap. American Journal of Nursing. 2005 Jan; 105(1): 91.

Messecar DC. Archbold PG. Stewart BJ. Kirschling J. (2002). Home environmental modification strategies used by caregivers of elders. Research in Nursing & Health. 25(5):357-70.

Messecar, D., Salveson, C. & Monkong. S. (2002). Feasibility of a Virtual Health and Wellness Center in the Oregon Air National Guard. Military Medicine, 167, 38-43.

Messecar, D. & Kendall, J. (1998). Guard and Reserve Spouse Stress During the Persian Gulf War Separation. Journal of Family Nursing, 3, 303-333.