[Representation and practice about "chimical restraints": qualitative study with 50 health worker]. / Interprétation et pratiques autour du terme "contention chimique" : étude qualitative auprès de 50 professionnels de santé.

The term "chemical restraints" seems to be used in medical practice, but does not have the same meaning for all French health care professionals. In available literature it is considered as use of psychotropic medications for behavioral disorders. We used qualitative research method based on semi-directive interviews, in order to better understand meaning of "chemical restraint" term for geriatric medical and paramedical personnel. This term is well understood, rarely used, wrong for some professional because "drugs do not hold". The term of "physical restraint" has a more tangible reality. The term of "sedation of psychocomportemental troubles" is more common and seems to have a less pejorative connotation. In practice chemical restraint may correspond to emergency use of benzodiazepines or neuroleptics by injection at doses leading to the patient's sedation without his consent.

[Health care surrogate and Alzheimer's disease]. / Personne de confiance et maladie d'Alzheimer.

Many healthcare professionals prejudge the capacity of a patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease to designate a health care surrogate. Consequently they deprive themselves of a person with whom they can discuss the patient's care while also depriving the patient of support and assistance.While the task of the health care surrogate is made more difficult as a result of cognitive disorders, their role can only be beneficial in a balanced relationship.

[The health care surrogate in general medicine]. / La personne de confiance en médecine générale.

The theme of the surrogate is not established in the practice of general practitioners yet. Their long-term relation with patients places them in a favorable position to approach this topic. The surrogate could improve the quality of patient's care. Some factors limiting the surrogate's designation are indicators of the current deficiencies of the surrogate's device.

[Should caregivers be concerned with the nutritional state of elderly patients?]. / Faut-il s'intéresser au statut nutritionnel des patients âgés?

A geriatric syndrome in its own right, malnutrition must be systematically looked for whenever an elderly patient is being treated. A marker of vulnerability, once identified it requires repeated assessment and adapted treatment. Undernutrition is often the consequence of various aetiologies justifying a full assessment and an assertive, multi-professional treatment.