Sexual problem behaviors of institutionalized residents with dementia and caregivers' management

• Main Authors: Wan-Ting Lin, 林婉婷
• Other Authors: Li-Chan Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2005
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/71992034554562041486

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 臨床護理研究所 === 93 === The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of sexual problem behaviors in institutionalized residents with dementia and formal caregivers’ management in Taiwan. The participants in this study were institutionalized residents with dementia and their formal caregivers. Data were collected using questionnaires and observing these participants. One hundred seventeen institutionalized residents with dementia and 69 formal caregivers were observed for five days. The results indicated a prevalence of sexual problem behaviors in institutionalized residents with dementia of around 9.4%. The most common sexual problem behaviors are “Staring continually at your or others’ private part of body, such as breasts or buttocks” and “Touching your or others’ body abtruptly”, which male residents displayed at living room in the institution during “free time” and “before going to bed”. Sexual problem behaviors were significantly associated with the Barthel index and MMSE scores. The results of questionnaires indicated a moderate extent of disturbance from sexual problem behaviors for formal caregivers, and they often were understanding in their response to these behaviors. They usually managed sexual problem behaviors by “Ignore it and pretend not to see it”, using “Verbal demands and scolding to stop the behavior”, and “Reminding or persuading verbally”. The degree of a disturbance and an appropriate degree of management were significantly different by job title. The extent of a disturbance was significantly associated with age, the duration of living in the institution and MMSE scores of residents. An appropriate degree of management was significantly associated with hours of attending training courses. The results of this study can help formal caregivers assess sexual problem behaviors accurately, reduce the extent of disturbance and determine appropriate management. It is suggested that training courses for formal caregivers be provided according to their job function, with the goal of reducing the extent of disturbances and applying an appropriate degree of management. Suggested topics for future studies include observing more events about sexual problem behaviors to establish formal categories of sexual problem behaviors among male and female residents, and to better understand the abilities of formal caregivers in dealing with sexual problem behaviors in clinical practice.