住院老年病人如廁跌倒現象之初探

The Phenomenon of Elder Inpatient Falls Due to Toileting

住院老年病人如廁跌倒問題是值得討探的。本研究目的在：探討住院老人如廁跌倒時之情境、住院老人如廁跌倒之情緒現象及住院如廁跌倒老人家屬之反應，分析如廁跌倒老人與其陪伴者之基本資料及跌倒當時情境，樣本來自某醫學中心65歲以上有陪伴者仍跌倒之老年病人139位，以立意取樣，依據訪談大綱訪談27位病人及陪伴者，訪談資料採取內容分析法(content analysis)，深入瞭解住院老年人如廁跌倒之情境、情緒現象及陪伴者對老年人如廁跌倒之反應，結果顯示住院老人跌倒有以下五種現象及其子現象：1.老人未曾預料會跌倒：包括身體反應與期望有落差、部分呈現記憶喪失狀態、病人感受老化的無力感。2.住院老人跌倒之情緒感受：其中主要為害怕及不在意兩種佔多數。3.陪伴者之感受：呈現出擔心、無奈、內疚及自責之情緒，也感受到病人之體諒。4.陪伴者體能之限制。5.異性子女照護病人如廁之困境等現象。此研究讓工作人員更了解如廁跌倒老年病人及家屬之心境及限制，以協助病患及照顧者執行安全的如廁過程，並增加民眾對老化之認識。

It is valuable to study the Phenomenon of falls in the toilet for elderly inpatients. The purposeof this study was to explore the situation of falls in the toilet among elderly inpatient, their feelingsafter a fall and caregivers reactions. The demographic data and fall situations were analyzed. Patientsover 65 years of age, whose caregivers were with them when the fall at one general hospital,were sampled. In-depth interviews were employed with 27 elderly inpatients and their caregivers.The content analysis revealed five common themes emerging from narratives-unexpected falls ofthe elders, their feelings about falling, feelings of caregivers, limitation of physical vigour for thecaregivers and a dilemma of gender issue for caregivers. The result could help nurses increasetheir understanding and caring of the elders and caregivers not only physically but also psychologically.