중증 치매환자의 통증에 대한 간호사의 태도와인식

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the nurses' attitudes toward pain and the perceptions of pain indicators in patients with severe dementia. Method: The subjects were 71 nursing staff members of four geriatric hospitals. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient. Result: The subjects' attitudes toward pain is not desirable enough for the nurse to adequately manage the pain in patients with severe dementia. The physical cues of the severely demented person were perceived to be the most important pain indicator. There was a significant positive correlation between the attitudes toward pain and the perceptions of pain indicators(r=.26, p=.04). Conclusion: The findings suggested that the nurses need to be educated and trained regarding pain and pain management for the severely demented elderly. It seems to be an urgent need to develop the standardized pain assessment tool based on behavioral pain indicators.