抄録
The Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) system was established in Japan to support independence among its elderly population. This system provides home visiting nurse services, which enable clients to maintain their independence and receive continuous home care; however, it is unclear whether the current number of nurse visits is sufficient. We re-analyzed a large sample of data on clients using home visiting nurse services under the LTCI system to derive the prevalence of home visiting nurse service clients who received an insufficient number of visits and its correlates. Among 2,666 clients from 64 home visiting nursing agencies located in eight districts in Japan, 372 clients (14%) did not receive a sufficient number of visits. Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, clients who were physically dependent, had a non-neurologic disorder, and who have used home visiting nurse services less than one year were likely to receive an insufficient number of visits. When opportunities for care are limited, nurses cannot provide sufficient care. Our results reveal that decision makers and agencies should evaluate whether the number of home nursing visits is sufficient, and care managers and home visiting nurses should pay more attention to short-term users.
