J Prev Med Public Health.  2004 Aug;37(3):282-291.

A Relationship of Care Time with Functional Status and Patients Characteristics among Patients in Long-term Care Hospitals

• Yi JJ
• Yi SW
• Kim JI
• Yu SH
• Yoo HS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to investigate the functional status variables related to the care time of health professionals for patients in long-term care facilities. METHODS: The functional stati of 1001 patients in 8 longterm care hospitals were examined by the Resident Assessment Instrument for Long-term Care Facility Version 2.0. The care time of health professionals for patients was calculated using data from a self-reported task survey by nurses, auxiliary nurses, private aides, doctors, physiotherapists and social workers. RESULTS: The average care time per diem was 240.6 minutes. The care time by doctors, nurses and private aides were 11.0, 71.0 and 139.5 minutes, respectively. The lower the function of activities of daily living (ADL) and the greater the symptoms of extensive services, special care and clinical complexity, the more care time was served. On the contrary, the greater the symptoms of nursing rehabilitation, depression, cognitive disorder, behavior problem and psychiatry/mood disorder, the less care time was served. Age and gender were not significantly related to the care time. CONCLUSIONS: Developing a case mix classification system for elderly long term care patients may be helpful for both of patients and health care providers. The ADL, extensive services, special care and clinical complexity of variables should be considered in the development of a case mix system for the long term care of patients in Korea.

Keyword

Care time; Long-term care; Case mix; Activities of daily living

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Aged
Classification
Depression
Diagnosis-Related Groups
Health Occupations
Health Personnel
Humans
Korea
Long-Term Care*
Nursing
Physical Therapists
Rehabilitation
Social Work
Social Workers