Interaction between nurses and elderly clients and its effects upon client's perceived quality of life

Abstract

This study acknowledges the growing need for health care within the aged population and by building on existing studies proposes to examine the nature of the nurse-client interaction, within a large institution providing health care for the elderly, and to determine its effects upon the client's perceived quality of life. After taking into consideration various methods that could be used to achieve this aim, it would appear that by observing a sample of nurses within a given time span, and interviewing a sample of elderly clients with whom the nurse being observed could potentially interact, the proposed aim would be achieved. A structured observation using a non-participant method would be used to record the nature of the nurse-client interaction, whilst a structured interview would be used to examine the personal quality of life as perceived by each elderly client. The client's perceived quality of life would then be related to the type of the nurse-client interaction and its frequency, to try to establish any correlation between these two factors. Anticipated value and usefulness of the study, together with recommendations for further research are also discussed in this project.