Abstract

The main purposes of this study are: (a) describe the nature and extent of sleep medication use among elderly men and women residing in 18 skilled nursing facilities; (b) determine the relationship between the rate of nurse administration and various medical, social, psychological, and situational factors that may influence nurse decision-making; and (c) determine whether and how nursing home ownership is related to the administration of sleep medications. The theoretical framework considers both social and medical factors, including: patient characteristics, the level of patient demand for medication, nurse attitudes toward sleep medications and their use in nursing homes, nurse-patient ratios, drug type and schedule, and nursing home ownership. Six types of data will be collected and analyzed by multidisciplinary team that includes a medical sociologist, a physician, two pharmacists, and a sociologist-social worker. The sources of data include: pharmacy record data, data from medical/nursing records, a nurse questionnaire, systematic observation of evening nurses, a post-observational interview with the nurse, and a survey of nursing home administrators. Since there are few scientific studies that examine nurse decision-making regarding sleep medication, this study should be of considerable interest to members of various health professions as well as specialists in gerontology and medical sociology.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AG005120-01A1
Application #
3115636
Study Section
Human Development and Aging Subcommittee 1 (HUD)
Project Start
1985-09-30
Project End
1988-08-31
Budget Start
1985-09-30
Budget End
1986-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715