Are wandering and physically nonaggressive agitation equivalent?
OBJECTIVE
The authors examined equivalence of wandering and physically nonaggressive agitation (PNA) as concepts.


METHODS
A cross-sectional correlational design was used.


METHODS
Participants were recruited from 22 nursing homes and 6 assisted living facilities in two states.


METHODS
Ambulatory residents meeting DSM-IV criteria for dementia (N = 181) were studied.


METHODS
Video-tapes for up to twelve 20-minute observations per participant were coded for wandering using an empirically derived taxonomy of ambulation patterns. Separate raters coded the same tapes for six PNA behaviors on the agitation behavior mapping instrument.


RESULTS
Most participants (73.5%) wandered; all showed PNA behaviors. Factor analyses yielded an one-factor solution for wandering (explained variance = 43.66%) and a two-factor solution for PNA (explained variance = 53.45%). Overall wandering correlated significantly with PNA Factor 1 (df =179, r = 0.68, p <0.001) and Factor 2, but at a lower value (df = 179, r = 0.26, p <0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings depict wandering and PNA as overlapping, but nonequivalent phenomena. Evidence supporting construct validity of wandering was more robust than that for PNA. Results have implications for accuracy in scientific and clinical detection and labeling of wandering and agitation.
Algase
Donna L
DL
University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0482, USA. dalgase@umich.edu
Antonakos
Cathy
C
Yao
Lan
L
Beattie
Elizabeth R A
ER
Hong
Gwi-Ryung Son
GR
Beel-Bates
Cynthia A
CA
D000368:Aged; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D018579:Patient Selection; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014743:Videotape Recording; D016138:Walking