Factorial Structure of the Interactions of Nurses with Families of Older Adults with Dementia in General Wards of an Acute Care Hospital

Abstract

  This study aimed to clarify the factorial structure of nurses’ interactions, specifically their engagement, with family members of older patients with dementia in the general wards of an acute care hospital. A self-administered questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 302 nurses in an acute care hospital, and 155 valid responses were obtained. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that interactions with families comprised a structure of four factors and 18 items: (1) interactions recognizing families as important supporters of patients, (2) interactions recognizing families as recipients of support, (3) interactions promoting families' understanding of dementia care and emotional expression, and (4) requests for family accompaniment for patient safety and security, and for flexible responses to individual circumstances. Scores for interactions promoting family understanding of dementia care and emotional expression, and for requests for family accompaniment for patient safety and flexible responses to individual circumstances, were relatively low among the four factors. These findings suggest the importance of continuing education in dementia care that focuses on families and ethical efforts.