急性期病院に入院している難聴高齢者の難聴に由来する体験

The Experiences of the Elderly Caused Presbycusis in an Acute Care Hospital

抄録

　本研究は，急性期病院に入院している難聴高齢者の難聴に由来する体験を明らかにすることを目的とした．入院中であり難聴をもつ高齢者15人を対象として半構成的面接を行いデータ収集し，質的記述的に分析した．難聴高齢者の体験として，【入院という状況で思うようにならない】【まわりから取り残される】【会話による気持ちの安らぎがない】【気兼ねして生活する】などの困難な状況が明らかになった．そのような状況でも難聴高齢者は【自分を保とうとする】【何とかして理解しようとする】ことによって入院生活に適応しようとしていた．また，【自分の耳以外に頼るものがある】ことや【まわりからの配慮を感じる】ことは難聴高齢者の入院生活を支えていた．看護師は，難聴高齢者が【何とかして理解しようとする】ことを支え，【まわりから取り残される】ことがないよう配慮すること，気持ちの安らぎがもてるようなコミュニケーションを実践することが必要であると示唆された．

　The purpose of this study was to elucidate the experience of the elderly with presbycusis in an acute care hospital. Fifteen patients responded to semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed by qualitative description.

　The results allowed eight categories to be extracted from a total of 28 subcategories. The elderly with presbycusis had some difficulties in acute care hospital : “can't have their way because of hospitalization”, “are left behind by caregiver and their families and other patients”, “can't have a relaxed time by chatting”, “feel uneasy always”. However although they had some difficulties, they tried to adapt themselves to hospitalization : “try to keep to themselves”, for example, trying to avoid talking to other people, “try to understand somehow”, for example, that they need considerations by telling about their impairment. And they were supported by “having some support except for their hearing”, like their sight and their family's help, and “feeling the considerations of caregiver and their families and other patients”.

　“Try to understand somehow” is characteristic of the experience of the elderly with presbycusis in acute care hospital, because generally, people with deafness are unwilling to tell that they have impairment. These results suggested the need to support the elderly with presbycusis to be able to understand, to help them not to feel abaondoned, and to communicate with them for their peace of mind.