title: The development of an observation schedule for measuring nurse-patient touch, using an ergonomic approach.
abstract: An observation schedule for recording nurse-patient touch was developed, using an ergonomic approach to design. A preliminary study using video-tape analysis and a ward survey indicated that 'instrumental touch' was more frequently employed by nursing staff than 'expressive touch'. Three levels of relevant information relating to touch were recorded: General circumstances (the type of hospital, etc.); Demographic variables (relating to participants in the touch episode); Events specifically relating to the touch episode. The third section of the schedule was tested in an acute geriatric ward, using inter-observer reliability techniques. Reliability was found to be acceptable for those where the criteria for categorization were reasonably objective. It was concluded that an instrument for recording nurse-patient touch has useful applications for both ergonomic and nursing research.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D006804:Ergonomics; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011187:Posture; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014110:Touch; D014743:Videotape Recording