Nurses' experiences with the implementation of the Kinaesthetics movement competence training into elderly nursing care: a qualitative focus group study

Abstract

Background: Supporting the movement of older people is one among the daily duties of geriatric nurses. Nurses exhibit a high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. Nurses should also possess interaction skills to support active participation of older people in their own daily activities. Kinaesthetics movement competence training claims to be a recommendable approach that benefits both nurses and nursing home residents. However, implementing Kinaesthetics into daily practice is a challenging process.

Aim: This study aimed to examine nurses' experiences with regard to the implementation of Kinaesthetics movement competence training into a nursing home.

Design: Qualitative descriptive design with focus groups' interviews.

Method: Thirty-two (three men) geriatric nurses from a Swiss nursing home who participated first time in Kinaesthetics training were interviewed in three focus groups (average 79 minutes). Interviews were analysed using inductive coding, categorisation and abstraction. The ethics committees of the cantons Basel-Stadt and Basel-Land (Switzerland) approved the study on 16 September 2010 (reference no. 224/10).

Findings: Nurses' experiences with the implementation of Kinaesthetics were divided into two categories: nurses' attitudes with regard to the implementation of Kinaesthetics and nurses experience of Kinaesthetics with regard to integration into daily practice. Even though the participants showed a positive attitude towards the design and structure of the Kinaesthetics training, its implementation into daily practice initially posed a noticeable challenge for the participating nurses. The results indicate that various factors exist that may either promote or impede the implementation of Kinaesthetics in nursing.

Conclusion: The successful implementation of Kinaesthetics can be promoted by the structural integration of the concept at various levels of nursing home as well as complementary supporting measures. Regular professional support and education after Kinaesthetics training appears to be a necessary approach to sustainably implement the concepts into daily nursing practice.

Keywords: Kinaesthetics; elder care; nurse-elderly interaction; nursing home care.