2021 Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages 15-24
【Objective】We aimed to clarify the ethical influence of fall prevention sensors on older adults, their families, nurses and care workers, and drew comparisons between the type of sensors or experience of healthcare staff.
【Methods】This cross-sectional study used anonymous self-administered questionnaires completed by nurses and care workers in selected long-term care facilities between April and May 2014. We collected demographic data and information on experience of encountering falls and the use of fall prevention sensors. The ethical influence of the sensors on older adults, their families, nurses and care workers were evaluated using a Likert evaluation scale ranging from 1 (“I agree very much”) to 6 (“I do not agree at all”).
【Results】A total of 672 nurses and 382 care workers participated. The experience of using fall prevention sensors was significantly higher among the nurses than care workers (92.3 %vs. 84.3 %, p < 0.001). Connected sensors caused a sense of restraint and restriction on the behaviors of older adults, distress to older adults and their families, and feelings of guilt and perception of causing physical restraint for nurses and care workers. On the other hand, non-connected sensors were considered supportive in the maintenance and expansion of older adults’ activities of daily living (ADL) and in allowing “want to” requests and contributed to assurance of older adults and their families. Compared to care workers, the nurses felt that the sensors could lead to restraint and behavioral restriction in older adults and cause distress in older adults and their families.
【Conclusions】Based on the ethical influence of fall prevention sensors, nurses and care workers need to collaborate and, with organizational support, make comprehensive clinical judgments on sensor type selection, installation methods, and sensor adaptation.
