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Using direct observation to record the behaviour of long‐stay patients with dementia
Author(s) -
Bowie Peter,
Mountain Gail
Publication year - 1993
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/gps.930081009
Subject(s) - dementia , nothing , psychology , day care , medicine , nursing , philosophy , disease , epistemology , pathology
Abstract This article describes the development of a direct observation system for the assessment of the behaviour of elderly demented long‐stay patients. The technique of recording behaviour in real time has high face validity, and in conjunction with portable computers was found to be very reliable. The technique was used to assess the behaviour of patients during their waking day on seven wards. The findings suggest that almost two‐thirds of the day is spent doing nothing, with aimless or disruptive behaviours also accounting for a significant period of the day. Only a small proportion of the day was spent in self‐care or social behaviours.