Journal of Psychiatry

Developing a physical assessment reinforcement program for nurses working at psychiatric hospitals

International Conference on Psychiatric & Geriatrics Nursing and Stroke

November 19-20, 2018 | Paris, France

Harumi Arai

Shubun University, Japan

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

Introduction: In Japan, diagnosis techniques and treatment methods of cancer, one of the five major diseases subject to community healthcare (MHLW, 2011), have been developed, and examination has been carried out from various viewpoints. However, few of these accomplishments are applicable to cancer treatment and caretaking for schizophrenia patients. Purpose: In this study, a preliminary questionnaire survey, asking psychiatric nurses about physical assessment of schizophrenia patients with cancer, was conducted after obtaining approval as to research ethics at Iwaki Meisei University. Results: The results indicated that 128 nurses (85.3%) including 61 males (47.7%) and 67 females (52.3%) from age groups 20-29 (12.5%), 30-39 (25.8%), 40-49 (32.0%), 50-59 (21.9%), and 60-69 (7.8%) responded to the questionnaire. Seventy-seven nurses (60.2%) had experience working at general hospitals, 5.1 years on the average (SD�7.5), and the rest (39.8%) none, who worked at psychiatric hospitals for 10.8 years on the average (SD�8.4). Eighty-two nurses assessed ???poor appetite,??? 80 ???cough,??? 74 ???bleeding,??? and 68 ???fatigue??? (multiple answers included). Ninety-seven nurses wanted to gain knowledge on ???respiratory symptoms,??? 86 ???monitor management,??? 46 ???abdominal symptoms,??? and 34 ???cancer pain??? (multiple answers included). Discussion: The longer nurses work at psychiatric hospitals, the more they seem to lose interest in physical assessment. The importance of developing an education program focusing on ???respiratory symptoms??? and ???monitor management??? in the future was suggested.

Biography :

Harumi Arai has received her Doctoral degree in Health and Welfare Science from the Graduate School of Takasaki University of Health and Welfare. She is a Professor in Psychiatric Nursing and has been conducting field research for over 15 years on Palliative Care provided and needed for long-stay schizophrenia patients with cancer at Psychiatric Hospitals.

E-mail: zen-4126@nifty.com