[Equipment and use of equipment in nursing homes]

The aim of this research study was to describe the provision of aids and their use in the transport of residents. The study was also intended to analyse prior experience with the methods and concepts of resident transfer, paying due attention to back problems. The resulting knowledge is to support work on the implementation of procedures in geriatric in-patient care which are suited to workers with back problems.

This is a cross-sectional study, in which 217 nurses and 43 superior nurses were interviewed, with the help of a standardised questionnaire which they are expected to complete.

The majority of those questioned felt that they were not well informed about the availability of aids. This is reflected both in the deficient equipment with the aids and in how rarely they are used. The superior nurses regarded themselves as being rather better informed. In general, there are fewer small than large aids in the institutions and these are also used more rarely. "Lack of time" and "lack of acceptance by the residents" were the main reasons given for lack of use. About half of the superior nurses and nurses feel that they are well or very well informed about mobility concepts and working methods which spare the back. According to this, these concepts are only applied in a quarter of old people's homes, although training is more frequent. Instruction in the use of aids takes place too rarely. This can be concluded from the evaluation of the data from the superior nurses and the 109 spontaneous comments from the nurses, who not only advocated the purchase of the aids, but also emphasised the need for more information and training.

The results indicate that current work on equipment with aids and training in their use must be optimised and must also incorporate recent advances in scientific knowledge. Implementation of specific risk assessment analyses of stress at work and regular training in dealing with aids could help to support the use of aids for geriatric in-patients.