2022 Volume 10 Pages 36-44
In this study, an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among nurses with at least 2 years of experience working in emergency medicine at 289 designated emergency hospitals nationwide, with the aim of clarifying the ethical issues and characteristics of nurses working in emergency medicine for elderly patients with dementia. As a result, we received responses from 240 individuals. Regarding the acceptance frequency of elderly dementia patients, 154 individuals chose “always accept these patients”. Regarding the difficulty level of coping with dementia patients, 142 individuals chose “often find it difficult”, while 63 individuals chose “sometimes find it difficult”. In emergency medical care, more than 90% of all hospitals accept elderly patients with dementia. However, 96% of nurses found it difficult to cope with dementia patients due to the difficulty they have making decisions as a result of their reduced judgment ability and preconceptions that elderly patients with dementia patients engage in problematic behaviors. “Dignity and rights”, “The right of self-determination”, and “Ensuring safety”, specifically, the ethical issues of physical restraint, the attitudes of medical professionals, and support for decision-making have become clear, so the issue is to create a manual of responses based on this content.
