방문간호사의 재가노인 인지기능장애 관리에 대한 실태조사: 광역시보건소와 중소도시보건소를 중심으로

A Survey on Visiting Nurses Management for Elders with Cognitive Impairment Living in a Community: Focused on Health Centers in a Metropolitan and Medium-sized Cities

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the status and characteristics of visiting nurses management for elders with cognitive impairment living in a community focused on health centers in a metropolitan city and five medium-sized cities. Methods: Data were collected from 47 visiting nurses working in a metropolitan city and 47 visiting nurses working in five medium-sized cities from November to December 2012. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in knowledge, attitudes, and nursing behaviors of cognitive impairment between two groups (F=2.13, p=.148; F=3.64, p=.060; F=0.28, p=.595). Among the elders referred to a physician in a metropolitan city by visiting nurses, 42.4% were diagnosed as mild cognitive impairment and 15.2% were diagnosed as severe dementia. The major intervention programs which visiting nurses currently applied for elders were medication and exercise intervention programs, and the intervention programs which they would want to apply in the future were playing, music and recall intervention programs. Conclusion: The cognitive impairment screening test can be done effectively by visiting nurses. This study also suggests to develop various kinds of intervention programs to improve cognitive function for elders living in a community.