[Validation: its effect in residents and staff in a home for the aged]

In a quasi-experimental study the effectiveness of the method Validation is evaluated. This approach for disoriented institutionalized old people was developed by Naomi Feil in the U.S.A. This study evaluated the effect of Validation on the behaviour of institutionalized 'old-old' suffering from dementia and of those who deliver care to them. The study group included 19 demented residents of a home for the aged and 29 nurses, of whom 15 nurses had followed the basic course in Validation. The other 14 nurses were selected as members of the control group. The behaviour of the residents was measured with the BPS (a scale for Mental and Social Problems). This measurement was performed by the nurses of the two groups on three different points of time (before the course, immediately after the course and 4 months after the course). At the same time the nurses evaluated their own behaviour by a questionnaire developed by Verpoort. Differences between pre- and post-testscores showed some improvement in behaviour of residents and staff. However, contamination, social desirability and enthusiasm of the researcher and the staff may have influenced the results. It is concluded that Validation contributes to an improvement of the attitude and job satisfaction of nurses too. This benefits the residents.