Abstract
Purpose: To clarify the influencing factors and strategies in practicing a diabetes education program (hereinafter called education program) for the elderly by expert nurses by making a comparison with the adult.
Method: We made a mailing survey using an unsigned, self-writing questionnaire in the period of September–October 2009. For the influencing factors of the education program, the reply was requested to be made from 4 choice questions in the order of frequency, and, for the strategies that were practiced by expert nurses, the reply was requested to be provided in a free-style writing. Regarding the former, we made a comparative analysis using a statistical analytical method such as the Fisher’s exact test, and regarding the latter, we arranged and categorized the replies based on similarity in the contents.
Result: As a result of 93 valid replies, the following findings were obtained: (1) As the influencing factor in practicing the education program, the numbers of respondents about levels of understanding, circumstances of the family members, and the disease except diabetes in case of elderly were significantly more than those in case of adults. (2) As the strategies in practicing the education program by expert nurses, a category peculiar to the elderly such as “Ensure individuality and QOL,” etc. was extracted.
Discussion: The expert nurses provided intentional care such as “Ensure individuality and QOL,” because they understood in abundant clinical experience that there were strong needs for continuation of independent life in case of the elderly.
