Abstract
We investigated the specificity and structures of job-related stress in psychiatric dementia nurses (PDNs) caring for elderly patients with serious behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia who required substantial assistance with activities of daily living, in order to obtain fundamental knowledge toward providing mental health care for these nurses. Subjects were 244 nurses [63 PDNs and 181 other psychiatric nurses (OPNs)] Analysis of covariance to examine the specificity of job-related stress in PDNs revealed physical workload and work environment to be more significant stressors, and irritability and anxiety to be more significant stress reactions in PDNs than in OPNs. An examination of PDNs' job-related stress structures established in a structural equation model with two stress reactions confirmed as specific outcomes for PDNs revealed a significant positive influence of work environment on irritability; utilization of techniques for anxiety and physical workload influenced both stress reactions. Our findings highlight the importance of reducing physical workload and environment and establishing a structure for nursing techniques in psychiatric dementia wards to improve the mental health of PDNs.
Highlights
In 2000, 17 % of the Japanese population was aged 65 and over, and this figure is expected to rise to 28 % by 2025 [1], indicating that Japan is the fastest-aging society in the world, with the fewest children [2]
Objectives We investigated the specificity and structures of job-related stress in psychiatric dementia nurses (PDNs) caring for elderly patients with serious behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia who required substantial assistance with activities of daily living, in order to obtain fundamental knowledge toward providing mental health care for these nurses
Our findings highlight the importance of reducing physical workload and environment and establishing a structure for nursing techniques in psychiatric dementia wards to improve the mental health of PDNs
Summary
In 2000, 17 % of the Japanese population was aged 65 and over, and this figure is expected to rise to 28 % by 2025 [1], indicating that Japan is the fastest-aging society in the world, with the fewest children [2]. As the age of patients increases, they become more vulnerable to physical illness [4] and are at increased risk of mental illnesses such as dementia [5, 6]. It is estimated that there will be 2.5 million people with dementia in Japan by 2015, and 3.23 million by 2025 [7]. While the total number of patients in psychiatric wards has been trending downwards in recent years, the number of dementia patients entering psychiatric wards is increasing annually [3]. In 2011, there was a total of 307,000 inpatients in psychiatric wards; the number of dementia inpatients has risen by about 20,000 since 1996, reaching 53,000 in 2011 [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
