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Guidelines for the management of unethical behaviour in homes for older persons: research


Kim O'Donaghue
Karien Jooste
Annatjie Botes

Abstract

The purpose of this research study is to formulate guidelines to counteract unethical behaviour of auxiliary nurses and care workers in homes for the older persons.


The study explored and described:


· the perceptions and behaviour of auxiliary nurses and care workers relating to unethical behaviour in homes for older persons; and


· the perceptions of registered nurses relating to unethical behaviour of auxiliary nurses and care workers in homes for older persons.


To achieve the goal and the objectives of the research a qualitative approach was used in the research design and method. The objectives of the research began with a written narrative of an actual case of unethical behaviour in a home for older persons, on which auxiliary nurses and care workers in homes for the older persons in the Gauteng area were asked to comment. Two open-ended questions were asked. The results of this data were presented for comments to a focus group of registered nurses. This data was recorded for truth value. The population and sampling for phase 1 of the study consisted of 60 auxiliary nurses and care workers who worked in homes for frail older persons in Gauteng. The population and sampling for phase 2 of the study consisted of ten professional nurses working in homes for frail older persons in Gauteng. Purposive sampling was used to achieve saturation of data. The model of Lincoln and Guba (1985) was used to ensure trustworthiness. Ethical considerations were maintained throughout the study and consent was obtained from the respondents. The recommendations of the research were that attention should be given to the following: management in homes for the older persons, personnel selection and recruitment, orientation and in-service training programmes, and the ethical-legal aspects of caring for older persons should be addressed.


Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om riglyne te beskryf wat die onetiese gedrag van hulpverpleegkundiges en sorgwerkers in ouetehuise kan bekamp.


Die studie het die persepsies


· en gedrag van hulpverpleegkundiges en sorgwerkers rakende onetiese gedrag in ouetehuise ondersoek en beskryf;


· van geregistreerde verpleegkundiges rakende die onetiese gedrag van hulpverpleegkundiges en sorgwerkers in ouetehuise ondersoek en beskryf.


Om die oogmerke en doelwitte van die navorsing te bereik is ๋n kwalitatiewe benadering gevolg in die navorsingsontwerp en -metode wat gebruik is.


Die doelwitte van die navorsing het met ๋n geskrewe verhaal van ๋n werklike geval van onetiese gedrag in ๋n ouetehuis begin. Hulpverpleegkundiges en sorgwerkers in twee ouetehuise in Gauteng is gevra om kommentaar daarop te lewer. Twee oopeinde-vrae is gestel. Die resultate van die data is aan ํn fokusgroep van geregistreerde verpleegkundiges vir kommentaar voorgelอ. Hierdie data is vir geloofwaardigheid getoets.


Die deelnemers vir fase 1 van die studie het bestaan uit 60 hulpverpleegkundiges en sorgwerkers wat in ouetehuise vir verswakte bejaardes in Gauteng gewerk het. Die deelnemers vir fase 2 van die studie het bestaan uit tien geregistreerde verpleegkundiges wat in ouetehuise vir verswakte bejaardes in Gauteng gewerk het. Doelbewuste steekproefneming is gebruik om soveel as moontlik data in te samel. Lincoln en Guba (1985) se model is gebruik om betroubaarheid te verseker.


Etiese oorwegings is dwarsdeur die studie gehandhaaf en toestemming is van die respondente verkry. Aanbevelings voortspruitend uit die navorsing was dat die volgende aandag behoort te geniet: die bestuur van ouetehuise, personeelkeuring en ๑werwing, oriฮntering- en indiensopleidingsprogramme, en dat eties-wetlike aspekte van die versorging van bejaardes aangespreek moet word.


Key Words: Nursing auxiliaries, Care workers, Ethics, Homes for older persons


Health SA Gesondheid Vol.9(1) 2004: 79-89

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2071-9736
print ISSN: 1025-9848