Obstacles in nurse-elderly patient relationship from the patients' point of view

BACKGROUND: Elderly population is increasing worldwide. The elderly are hospitalized more and have a longer stay compared to patients of all ages. Nurse-elderly patient relationship has a key role in improving nursing care and increasing patient’s satisfaction of health care system. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from June to August 2005. The sample consisted of 110 elderly patients hospitalized in the internal surgical wards of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, selected by convenience sampling method. Data were collected by interviewing patients based on a structured questionnaire including questions about obstacles related to nurses, the elderly patients, and environment and working conditions. RESULTS: There were 63 (57.3%) males and 47 (42.7%) females with the mean age of 69 years. From the elderly patients' point of view, the main obstacle related to nurses was that of their disrespect towards the elderly patients (98.2%), the main obstacle related to the elderly patients was that of their diseases and medicine side-effects affecting their talking (76.4%), and the main obstacle related to environment and working conditions was that of crowded wards and rooms (70%). CONCLUSION: There are important obstacles in nurse-elderly patient relationship. It is necessary to include aging process and its related changes as well as relationship with elderly patient in nursing curricula. Also, nursing staffs should receive in-service education regarding relationship with the elderly patients.