This study is part of a larger study of the effect of integrity-promoting care in a Swedish nursing home ward. Compared with assessments on a control ward, improvements were found in the patients' behaviour and in the quality of care after a three-month intervention period. This paper reports on parts of a questionnaire survey on the nursing staff's opinions of their working conditions and demented patients.
Most staff members on both the intervention ward and the control ward found their jobs meaningful, engaging and stimulating, but they also felt that they had a heavy work-load.
Most of the staff members experienced mental strain because of the patients' disturbed behaviour. Many did not think that the care on their ward would have been good enough for their own close relatives, if they had been suffering from dementia. Only slight changes were found in the staff members opinions after the intervention.
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