2018 Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 108-118
The objective of this study was to clarify the process involved in outpatient nursing care of elderly patients with diabetes whose self-care behavior had become impaired owing to decreased cognitive functions. We analyzed the interview responses of 6 nurses at the outpatient department by the modified grounded theory approach.
The process started with "conviction about a patient's decreased cognitive function," followed by "capture of the current condition of the patient with decreased cognitive function" and "recognition of the necessity for a support system," and finally arrived at "help the patient exhibit steady self-care behavior" and "support the patient's family members to select their roles of assistance." This was followed by a process where the best environment for both the patient and the family members was sought; at the same time, following "evaluation of a balanced environment", care provision was continued with "forecast for progression of the patient's decreased cognitive function status and vision of care provision." Care was always provided based on a "consistent policy rooted in nursing care." As indicated by "balancing of self-emotion" and "question about the meaning of steadiness," the statements of the nurses were characterized by the fact that compassion for a patient and their family members had caused ambivalence and deliberation in practice.
