Gibbons Susanne W
Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA.
Nurs Res. 2009 May-Jun;58(3):194-200. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0b013e3181a3092c.
Self-neglect, best known for its prominent place in the elder mistreatment framework, is a phenomenon associated with a variety of health and social conditions. However, a second, less worrisome group of older adults with chronic disease exhibits similar patterns of nonadherence and inadequate self-care practices and has the potential for progression.
The purpose of this theory-validating research was to describe characteristics and behaviors of self-neglect in adults (aged 55 years and older) who reside in the community. This research described characteristics and behaviors of self-neglect in early stages of this phenomenon and described the influence of several variables of significance in the clinical evolution and course of self-neglect in identified cases.
A descriptive, exploratory mixed-method design was employed for a comprehensive analysis of the research questions. A convenience sample of seven healthcare providers identified a purposive sample of 20 patient participants. Demographic information, geriatric assessments, and structured interview data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics.
Characteristics and behaviors of self-neglect, before significant deterioration, are described in intentional (n = 9) and nonintentional (n = 11) self-neglect study participants. Fourteen themes emerged and were grouped into five categories. Coping problems appeared to affect operable self-care agency of each self-neglect study participant.
The results validate a framework for self-neglect research and practice and indicate a need to consider coping abilities of all patients exhibiting self-neglect.
自我忽视在虐待老年人的框架中最为人所知，是一种与多种健康和社会状况相关的现象。然而，第二类患有慢性病的老年人，情况没那么令人担忧，他们也表现出类似的不遵医嘱和自我护理不足的模式，并且有病情进展的可能性。
这项理论验证性研究的目的是描述居住在社区中的成年人（55岁及以上）自我忽视的特征和行为。这项研究描述了这种现象早期阶段自我忽视的特征和行为，并描述了几个重要变量在已确诊病例中自我忽视的临床演变和病程中的影响。
采用描述性、探索性混合方法设计，对研究问题进行全面分析。由7名医疗保健提供者组成的便利样本确定了20名患者参与者的目的样本。使用内容分析和描述性统计分析人口统计学信息、老年评估和结构化访谈数据。
在有意（n = 9）和无意（n = 11）自我忽视研究参与者中，描述了自我忽视在显著恶化之前的特征和行为。出现了14个主题，并分为5类。应对问题似乎影响了每个自我忽视研究参与者的可操作自我护理能力。
结果验证了自我忽视研究和实践的框架，并表明需要考虑所有表现出自我忽视的患者的应对能力。
