Picking behaviour in cognitively impaired residents in geriatric settings: prevalence of the behaviour and characteristics of the residents.
This paper presents the findings of a point prevalence study performed at all geriatric settings within a county in Northern Sweden. The aims of the study were twofold: to investigate the prevalence of picking behaviour in cognitively impaired residents in various kinds of geriatric care settings and describe the characteristics of the residents, and to investigate how the residents who exhibit picking behaviour are experienced by their care providers. The study comprises 1928 cognitively impaired residents. The prevalence of picking behaviour was found to be 17%. Multivariate analyses showed that behavioural and psychiatric symptoms such as 'often stands at the outer door and wants to go out', 'wanders alone or with other patients back and forth', 'aggressive threats to patients and staff' and being 'manic' and 'fearful' were associated with picking behaviour. Other factors associated with picking behaviour were 'taking part in daily tasks', 'can walk without assistance' and imposing a high psychological workload. Furthermore, residents who exhibited picking behaviour were experienced by care providers as more uncertain and unhappier than residents who did not behave in this way.
Department of Health Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. karin.johansson@hv.ltu.se
Karin
K
Johansson
Per-Olof
PO
Sandman
Stig
S
Karlsson
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003221:Confusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012307:Risk Factors; D012659:Semantic Differential; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016526:Workload