title: Interactions of people with disabilities and nursing staff during hospitalization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inadequate primary health care and screening have been identified as serious issues for people with disabilities, but little evidence exists on the nursing care of this population when hospitalized. This study sought to explore the experiences of people with disabilities in their interactions with nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel and their perceptions of the care they received during hospital stays.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive qualitative study, 35 people with disabilities were interviewed in focus groups, and audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed and validated for accuracy. Content analysis identified major themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four themes were identified: poor communication on the part of nursing staff, compromised care, negative attitudes among staff, and participants' fears related to quality of care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest the need for further research into the nursing care of people with disabilities during hospitalization. Educational strategies to ensure that nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel have adequate knowledge about the needs of people with disabilities may help in augmenting the care provided to this population.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nursing Research, Villanova University College of Nursing, Villanova, PA, USA. suzanne.smeltzer@villanova.edu
authors.forename: Suzanne C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Smeltzer
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avery
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haynor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D003144:Communication Barriers; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States