Strain in nursing care of people with dementia: Nurses' experience in Australia, Sweden and United Kingdom

Anna Karin Edberg; Mike Bird; David A. Richards; Robert Woods; Philip Keeley; Vivienne Davis-Quarrell

doi:10.1080/13607860701616374

Strain in nursing care of people with dementia: Nurses' experience in Australia, Sweden and United Kingdom

Anna Karin Edberg, Mike Bird, David A. Richards, Robert Woods, Philip Keeley, Vivienne Davis-Quarrell

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore nurses' experience of strain in dementia care. Method: Focus groups were held with 35 nurses in Sweden, Australia and UK, who care for people with dementia. The discussions were tape-recorded and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The nurses described the complexity of their situation and referred to environmental factors such as 'the system', community attitudes, other staff, residents' family members and also their own family. With regard to caring for people with dementia, three main sources of strain could be identified: Being unable to reach; Trying to protect; and Having to balance competing needs. Conclusion: The nurses' experience could be understood as a desire to do the best for the people in their care by trying to alleviate their suffering and enhance their quality of life. When they did not have the resources, opportunity or ability to do this, it caused strain. © 2008 Taylor & Francis.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	236-243
Number of pages	7
Journal	Aging and Mental Health
Volume	12
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860701616374
Publication status	Published - Mar 2008

Keywords

Dementia
Focus groups
Interviews
Nurses experience
Nursing care
Qualitative research

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10.1080/13607860701616374

Cite this

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abstract = "Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore nurses' experience of strain in dementia care. Method: Focus groups were held with 35 nurses in Sweden, Australia and UK, who care for people with dementia. The discussions were tape-recorded and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The nurses described the complexity of their situation and referred to environmental factors such as 'the system', community attitudes, other staff, residents' family members and also their own family. With regard to caring for people with dementia, three main sources of strain could be identified: Being unable to reach; Trying to protect; and Having to balance competing needs. Conclusion: The nurses' experience could be understood as a desire to do the best for the people in their care by trying to alleviate their suffering and enhance their quality of life. When they did not have the resources, opportunity or ability to do this, it caused strain. {\textcopyright} 2008 Taylor & Francis.",

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T1 - Strain in nursing care of people with dementia: Nurses' experience in Australia, Sweden and United Kingdom

AU - Edberg, Anna Karin

AU - Bird, Mike

AU - Richards, David A.

AU - Woods, Robert

AU - Keeley, Philip

AU - Davis-Quarrell, Vivienne

PY - 2008/3

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N2 - Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore nurses' experience of strain in dementia care. Method: Focus groups were held with 35 nurses in Sweden, Australia and UK, who care for people with dementia. The discussions were tape-recorded and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The nurses described the complexity of their situation and referred to environmental factors such as 'the system', community attitudes, other staff, residents' family members and also their own family. With regard to caring for people with dementia, three main sources of strain could be identified: Being unable to reach; Trying to protect; and Having to balance competing needs. Conclusion: The nurses' experience could be understood as a desire to do the best for the people in their care by trying to alleviate their suffering and enhance their quality of life. When they did not have the resources, opportunity or ability to do this, it caused strain. © 2008 Taylor & Francis.

AB - Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore nurses' experience of strain in dementia care. Method: Focus groups were held with 35 nurses in Sweden, Australia and UK, who care for people with dementia. The discussions were tape-recorded and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The nurses described the complexity of their situation and referred to environmental factors such as 'the system', community attitudes, other staff, residents' family members and also their own family. With regard to caring for people with dementia, three main sources of strain could be identified: Being unable to reach; Trying to protect; and Having to balance competing needs. Conclusion: The nurses' experience could be understood as a desire to do the best for the people in their care by trying to alleviate their suffering and enhance their quality of life. When they did not have the resources, opportunity or ability to do this, it caused strain. © 2008 Taylor & Francis.

KW - Dementia

KW - Focus groups

KW - Interviews

KW - Nurses experience

KW - Nursing care

KW - Qualitative research

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DO - 10.1080/13607860701616374

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JO - Aging and Mental Health

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ER -

Strain in nursing care of people with dementia: Nurses' experience in Australia, Sweden and United Kingdom

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Keywords

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