| dc.description.abstract | People with dementia, particularly those who reside in nursing homes, are at high risk of
under-recognition and under-treatment of pain. Under-treatment of pain is associated with
gait disturbances, falls, malnutrition, increased morbidity, increased mortality, sleep
disturbances, decreased socialization, depression, impaired immune functions, and agitated
behavior, that pose threats to the quality of life of residents with dementia in nursing
homes. This study focuses on the impact of individual pain treatment on the quality of life of
nursing home residents with dementia, in west-coast of Norway. About 66 residents were
recruited from five nursing homes and they were subjected to randomization. After
randomization, residents were divided into two groups; the intervention group, where
residents were given individual pain treatment for the period of eight weeks, and control
group, where residents were not treated for pain. At the end of the next four weeks, after
the intervention period, some of the measures were repeated in both the groups, as a follow
up study. The variables measured to study the quality of life were, systolic blood pressure,
diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, participation in social activities, skin problems and
depression. To analyze the data, descriptive and correlation analysis were used by using
SPSS-18 for Windows. The major findings from stepwise-regression analysis in experimental
group indicated that pulse rate and depression were the ultimate predictors of quality of life
of nursing home residents with dementia.
This thesis is written as a part of the Master Study in Health and Social Sciences, with major
focus on empowerment, at University of Stavanger, Norway, 2011. This thesis is divided into
two parts; the first part is the main summary of the study, supported by theories, and the
second part is an article which is planned to be sent for publication in Scandinavian Journal
of Caring Sciences. | no_NO |
