title: Clinical validation of the NANDA-I diagnosis of impaired memory in elderly patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to perform a clinical validation of the defining characteristics of impaired memory (IM) in elderly patients at a long-term care institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 123 elderly patients was evaluated with a questionnaire designed to identify IM according to the NANDA-I taxonomy. Accuracy measures were calculated for the total sample and for males and females separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitivity and specificity values indicated that: (1) inability to learn new skills is useful in screening IM, and (2) forgets to perform a behavior at a scheduled time, forgetfulness, inability to learn new information, inability to recall events, and inability to recall factual information are confirmatory indicators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific factors can affect the manifestation of IM by elderly patients. The results may be useful in improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of the IM nursing diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil 60430-160.
authors.forename: Michelle H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Montoril
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil 60430-160. Electronic address: marcos@ufc.br.
authors.forename: Marcos Venícios O
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24020-091, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosimere F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil 60430-160.
authors.forename: Vanessa Emille C
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil 60430-160.
authors.forename: Priscilla Magalhães O
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil 60430-160.
authors.forename: Camila M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil 60430-160.
authors.forename: Naiana P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil 60430-160.
authors.forename: Gabriele L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil 60430-160.
authors.forename: Nathaly Bianka M
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Fróes
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil 60430-160.
authors.forename: Angélica P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Menezes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Clinical validation; Geriatric nursing; Memo; Nursing diagnosis