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Helping and Hurting: Predictors of Maltreatment of Patients in Nursing Homes

NCJ Number
133595
Journal
Research on Aging Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1991) Pages: 74-95
Author(s)
K Pillemer; R Bachman-Prehn
Date Published
1991
Length
22 pages
Annotation
A survey of a random sample of 577 nurses and nursing aides working in 31 long-term care facilities gathered information regarding the predictors of physical and psychological abuse of patients.
Abstract
The three sets of variables proposed to predict the occurrence of maltreatment were institutional characteristics, staff characteristics, and situational characteristics. Greater maltreatment was expected from staff who work in smaller facilities, work in for-profit facilities, work in homes with lower reimbursement rates, are less well-educated, are younger, and are aides rather than nurses. Other factors believed to be predictive of abuse included less experience, negative attitudes toward patients, higher reported levels of burnout, more frequent conflicts with patients, and more patient aggression. Results indicated that 10 percent of the staff had physically abused a patient and 40 percent had committed psychological abuse, most often yelling at a patient in anger. Logistic regression analysis revealed that situational characteristics are the best predictors of patient maltreatment. In particular, staff burnout and the level of conflict between staff and patients were strongly related to the abuse of patients. Findings indicated the need to increase the numbers and quality of staff and to reduce their stress and tension. Figures, tables, notes, and 59 references

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