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Exploring nurses’ recognition of delirium in the elderly by using Q‐methodology
Author(s) -
Jeong Eunhye,
Chang Sung Ok
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
japan journal of nursing science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.363
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1742-7924
pISSN - 1742-7932
DOI - 10.1111/jjns.12199
Subject(s) - delirium , viewpoints , varimax rotation , seriousness , psychology , medicine , nursing , clinical psychology , psychiatry , cronbach's alpha , psychometrics , art , political science , law , visual arts
Aim Despite its high prevalence and seriousness, delirium has been underrecognized by nurses. One reason is that the original characteristics of delirium are relatively unspecific and phenomenologically diverse, which makes a nurse's subjective decision more important in delirium detection. This study aims to identify the experiences, practices, and viewpoints of nurses in recognizing delirium in the elderly. Methods In this study, Q‐methodology, which is a method for analyzing subjectivity, was used. Following the steps of Q‐methodology, 32 nurses with experiences in caring for the delirious elderly sorted 34 Q‐statements into the shape of a normal distribution. A centroid factor analysis and varimax rotation using the PQMethod program were conducted. Results This study revealed four factors regarding nurses toward delirium recognition in the elderly. They were: Factor I, prediction from the integrated signs; Factor II, visible symptom‐centered detection; Factor III, the detection of abnormal changes based on concentrated observation; and Factor IV, identification by relying on the diagnostic data. Conclusion The result of the study can help to understand elderly delirium detection more practically from a nurse's point of view. It is expected to be used as a basis for a practical and accessible delirium education for nurses that reflects nurses’ subjective viewpoints.