The nursing assistants' communication style and the behavioral symptoms of dementia in Korean-American nursing home residents.
Few studies examined the association between communication style and behavioral symptoms of dementia (BSD). The communication style of Nursing Assistants' (NAs), whose ethnic background is different from the residents, may contribute to BSD. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between non-Korean NAs' communication style and BSD in Korean-American (KA) nursing home residents with dementia. Twenty eight NAs and 20 KA residents were recruited from an ethno-specific nursing home. Research assistants observed and recorded NAs' communication style and residents' behavior simultaneously during routine care for 3 days. This study shows a trend that NAs' dementia and culturally appropriate communication style influenced the decreased behavioral symptoms. This finding suggests the need for training for NAs in dementia and culturally appropriate communication.
School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, USA. Electronic address: haesookk@gmail.com.
Haesook
H
Kim
School of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University, USA.
Diana Lynn
DL
Woods
School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Janet C
JC
Mentes
David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Jennifer L
JL
Martin
Department of Social Welfare, School of Public Affairs, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Ailee
A
Moon
School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Linda R
LR
Phillips
D001213:Asian; D003142:Communication; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009728:Nursing Assistants; D009735:Nursing Homes; D056910:Republic of Korea
Behavioral symptoms of dementia; Communication style; Korean American older adults