Abstract

PURPOSE
to investigate nursing service needs of dementia caregivers in the community, and also to provide basic data that is helpful in developing nursing intervention for them.
METHOD
MMSE-K exam was administered on 15,216 men more than 65years old who live in Gu, Seoul city, and the subject of this study were caregivers of 792 demented elderly who were below 20 points in the MMSE-K exam.
RESULT
Total score of nursing service needs of family appeared lower than average. By specific area, information nursing needs was the highest(M=3.29), and therapeutic nursing needs (M= 3.31), welfare service nursing needs(M=3.32), emotional support nursing needs (M=3.34) followed in order. The factors which increased the total score of nursing service needs of dementia caregivers as general and physical characteristics were man (p=.04), lower ADL (p=.00) and IADL(p=.00), longer length of sick days(p=.01), having diseases(p=.03), decline of cognition(p=.00), existence of dementia symptom(p=.00). And, high economic status(p=.03), good caring attitude(p=.00) were family characteristics which increased the nursing service needs of caregivers. As predicting variables dementia symptom (10.4%), caring attitude(1.9%), existence of economic activity(1.5%), and length of sick days(1.2%) exhibited explanation power in order.
CONCLUSION
In future, active intervention methods that correspond to family nursing service needs have to be developed, and it is also needed to develop nursing intervention strategy on specific problem with dementia problematic behavior, exercise etc.. Also, it is needed to do research on the caring attitude of dementia family because active caring attitude of family was significant influencing factor on nursing service needs of family.