title: The influence of elderly patients' mental impairment on nurse-patient interaction.
abstract: The study investigates nurse-patient interaction on a geriatric ward. The Clifton Assessment Procedure for the Elderly was used to measure cognitive and behavioural functioning and the 23 subjects studied were divided into three groups: lucid; slightly confused; and confused or demented. Information relating to the subjects' activities and interactions with nursing staff was gained from time sampling by direct observation. One hundred and eighteen nurses also completed a questionnaire to elicit their priorities in care. The results reveal very low levels of staff-patient communication. Nurses interact significantly less with confused than lucid patients. Patients spent only 9.7% of observed time in self-care activities, and 5.9% eating and drinking; the remaining time they were inactive. Nursing staff, however, regarded their care priority as physical care rather than psychosocial interaction or restorative activities.
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003221:Confusion / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D012683:Sensory Deprivation