Northwick Park Dependency Score- a New Scale for Use in Nursing Practice
Journal Title: Pielęgniarstwo Neurologiczne i Neurochirurgiczne - Year 2018, Vol 7, Issue 1
Abstract
Introduction. Evaluation of functional limitations in patients with ischemic stroke is essential in planning suitable nursing care. The main aim of all nursing procedures taken is to ensure the safety of patients, to provide the best, individualized care fulfilling patients’ needs and to support recovery process, considering the necessary number of nursing staff and time needed for these procedures. A tool helpful in the process of diagnosis and planning care is the Northwick Park Dependency Score — NPDS. Aim. The aim of the present study is to describe the Polish version of this scale and to assess its usefulness by comparing the NPDS with the Barthel Index — considered the “golden standard” for assessing patient’s disability and dependency. Material and Methods. The study included 100 elderly ischemic stroke patients aged 60 to 99 years (mean 76.1, SD 9.07). To assess patient’s dependency and thus the need of nursing care, the NPDS Scale was used. Functional status of patients was assessed with the Barthel Index, and the neurological state using the NIHSS. Results. Most items in NPDS, are similar to the items of the BI. However, the NPDS includes additional important questions regarding cognitive functions, communication and behavioral dysfunctions. It allows to estimate the number of nursing staff and their scope of competences necessary for providing care as well as time needed for particular nursing activities. There is a strong correlation between individual modules in the NPSD and the BI sales (r≈0.90). Nevertheless, these are not interchangeable. The high correlation coefficient confirms the validity of the Polish version of the NPDS. Conclusions. NPDS is a simple and useful tool in nursing care allowing to plan the activities based on objective indicators. Despite many similarities it is not a substitute for the popular Barthel Scale. Therefore, the NPDS should be promoted in the nursing environment as a possible work tool.
Authors and Affiliations
Justyna Kosakowska, Barbara Grabowska-Fudala, Anna Smelkowska, Maria Wilkiewicz, Krystyna Górna
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP405351
- DOI 10.15225/PNN.2018.7.1.1
- Views 67
- Downloads 0
Implementation of the Educational Program Among the Patients Treated Surgically Due to the Damage of the Part of the Centural Spine
Introduction. Treatment of patients with spine disorders is a subject of interest to many medical disciplines. Most patients complaining of back pain are successfully cured with conservative methods, some require surgica...
Ways to Deal with Back Pain Among Patients Treated in the Neurosurgery Ward
Introduction. Lumbar spine pain syndromes are a widespread problem that leads to lowering the quality of life and significant limitations of social, occupational and social life. Pharmacotherapy is often used as a remedy...
An Analysis of Patient Quality of Life after Ischemic Stroke of the Brain
Introduction. In highly developed countries, apart from heart attack and malignancies, stroke is the third leading cause for death and one of the major causes for disability or worsening of self-reliance, and consequentl...
Nursing Care of Patients with Myasthenia Gravis — Case Report
Introduction. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease caused by disruption in normal neuromuscular transmission due to the reduction in the number of the acetylcholine receptors. Patients with myasthenia gravis requir...
Restless Legs Syndrome in Nursing Practice
Restless legs syndrome (RLS/WED) is one of the most important causes of sleep disorders. It is a sensorimotor neurological dysfunction, very common, and at the same time too rarely diagnosed. It is characterized by the c...