Application and effect evaluation of continuous nursing in elderly debilitated patients / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the effect of continuous nursing on the nutritional status, muscle strength, physical activity function, quality of life, and degree of weakness of elderly patients.Methods:120 cases of elderly debilitated patients admitted in Beijing Friendship Hospital from June 2019 to July 2020 were selected and divided into a control group and a continuous care group according to the random number table method, with 60 cases in each group. The control group was given routine nursing, and the continuing nursing group was given continuous nursing. The cumulative frailty index (FI); the score of grip strength, timed up and go test (TUGT), short physical performance battery (SPPB); body mass index (BMI), serum albumin level and quality of life score of the two groups were compared.Results:After the intervention, the FI score, SPPB score and overall health score of the continuous nursing group were 0.25±0.05, 9.35±1.36, 68.22±6.32 respectively, and those of the control group were 0.36±0.12, 7.55±1.18, 60.56±6.38 respectively, the differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( t value was -6.554, 7.744, 6.607, P<0.05); after the intervention, the grip strength, TUGT level, BMI and serum albumin level in the continuous nursing group were (28.36±1.52) kg, (15.34±2.14) s, (21.15±0.95) kg/m 2, (36.85±3.92) g/L, respectively, while those in the control group were (25.22±1.78) kg, (19.56±2.68) s, (19.28±1.18) kg/m 2, (32.18±4.82) g/L, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( t value was -9.531-10.391, P<0.05). Conclusion:Continuous nursing can effectively ameliorate the nutritional status of elderly debilitated patients, improve muscle strength, physical activity and quality of life, and delay the debilitating process.