Factors related to aggressive behaviors among older adults in nursing homes of Korea: A cross-sectional survey study

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P><B>Background</B></P> <P>Aggressive behavior is one of the most challenging behavioral psychological symptoms for older adults and their caregivers in nursing homes.</P> <P><B>Objectives</B></P> <P>The purpose of this study was to examine and identify contributing factors of aggressive behaviors among older adults in nursing homes in South Korea.</P> <P><B>Design</B></P> <P>This is a secondary analysis of a national survey on health and functional status among older nursing home residents.</P> <P><B>Settings</B></P> <P>Participants were recruited from 91 nursing homes.</P> <P><B>Participants</B></P> <P>A total of 1447 older adults were included for final analysis and they were randomly selected from a nationally representative sample of people 65 years and older at the sampled nursing homes.</P> <P><B>Methods</B></P> <P>Presence of aggressive behaviors was identified when participants showed at least one of the five symptoms in the Korean interRAI Long-Term Care Facility Assessment Tool such as physical abuse, verbal abuse, socially inappropriate or destructive behaviors, and resistance to care. Theory-based contributing factors were selected and examined. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.</P> <P><B>Results</B></P> <P>About 19% of older nursing homes residents had aggressive behaviors, and several health and social factors including social engagement are associated with aggressive behaviors.</P> <P><B>Conclusions</B></P> <P>Aggressive behavior is prevalent in older nursing home residents with and without dementia in South Korea and individual and institutional level interventions are necessary.</P>