Slaughter Susan E, Morgan Debra, Drummond Neil
Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Clinical Science Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
J Gerontol Nurs. 2011 May;37(5):50-9. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20110106-07. Epub 2011 Jan 21.
Nurses and family members are key players responding to changes in the functional abilities of nursing home residents. This study compares families' and nurses' attributions and actions in the period immediately following the functional transitions of nursing home residents with middle-stage dementia. The walking and eating abilities of 120 residents were monitored every 2 weeks for a year. Observed functional losses triggered a total of 72 interviews with family members and nurses. Data were analyzed using quantitative description. Although both groups were more likely to attribute eating disability to dementia and walking disability to something other than dementia, there was less agreement in attributions for individual residents. Differences in attributions for functional losses can lead to disagreements about the appropriate course of action. Nurses working with family members toward a common understanding of the cause of functional decline will help inform a coordinated therapeutic response.
护士和家庭成员是应对养老院居民功能能力变化的关键角色。本研究比较了养老院中度痴呆居民功能转变后即刻期间家庭和护士的归因及行动。对120名居民的行走和进食能力进行了为期一年、每2周一次的监测。观察到的功能丧失引发了对家庭成员和护士的72次访谈。采用定量描述法对数据进行分析。虽然两组都更倾向于将进食障碍归因于痴呆，而将行走障碍归因于痴呆以外的其他原因，但对于个别居民的归因一致性较低。功能丧失归因的差异可能导致在适当行动方案上的分歧。与家庭成员共同努力以达成对功能衰退原因的共识的护士，将有助于为协调的治疗反应提供信息。
