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Behavioural problems in Sydney nursing homes
Author(s) -
Snowdon John,
Miller Robert,
Vaughan Rosemary
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199606)11:6<535::aid-gps345>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - aggression , psychomotor agitation , inter rater reliability , nursing homes , medicine , psychology , psychiatry , clinical psychology , nursing , rating scale , developmental psychology
The prevalence of significant behavioural disturbance in 46 Sydney nursing homes was examined. All 2445 residents were rated on a brief screening questionnaire by senior nurses, who decided that 704 (29%) displayed at least one problem behaviour for much of the time. Primary care nurses (PCNs) then rated these ‘screen‐positive’ residents using the Cohen‐Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). In one nursing home the PCNs rated all 100 residents on the CMAI and found that 24 of 58 ‘screen‐negative’ residents displayed CMAI behaviours once daily or more. Of CMAI behaviours rated as occurring daily or more often, 30% were manifested by ‘screen‐negative’ residents. Prevalence figures based on ‘screen‐positive’ residents are underestimates. Interrater reliability between PCNs was good. We report that at least 3.3% of residnets paced and 0.45% screamed several times an hour. Each of the following behaviours was manifested daily or more often by 10– 15% of the residents: restlessness, pacing, repetitive sentences, constant calls for help, cursing/verbal aggression and complaining. Aggressive behaviours (eg hitting, kicking, biting) were less common, and a relationship to cognitive impairment was demonstrated. Increased research on assessment and management of these behaviours is needed.