Methodological Corner
Benefits and Challenges of Electronic Surveillance in Nursing Home Research
Research in Gerontological Nursing
Vol. 3 No. 1 January 2010
By K. Susan Sifford, MSN, APN; Ashok Bharucha, MD
ABSTRACT
Cognitive impairment and frailty associated with dementia renders
residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities particularly vulnerable to
physical and emotional harm. Resident-to-resident violence affects not only the
target of the aggression, but also the aggressor, as well as the formal and
informal caregivers who must intervene. To date, little research has been
conducted on resident-to-resident violence despite preliminary but emerging
evidence that it is a common (and likely growing) problem in LTC settings.
Exploration of this phenomenon presents multiple pragmatic and ethical
challenges. This article presents a rationale for implementing newer
technological methods to collect data in investigations of resident-to-resident
violence associated with dementia. The advantages and disadvantages of
electronic surveillance in LTC research and the ethical principles involved are
discussed, and an argument is developed for using electronic surveillance in
both the shared, as well as private, spaces of the facility.
AUTHORS
Ms. Sifford is Assistant Professor of Nursing and John A. Hartford
Foundation Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Scholar, Arkansas State
University, School of Nursing, Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Dr. Bharucha is
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic,
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests
in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this
activity. Support for this work was provided by the John A. Hartford
Foundation’s Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Scholarship
Program.
Address correspondence to K. Susan Sifford, MSN, APN, Assistant
Professor of Nursing, Arkansas State University, School of Nursing, PO Box 910,
State University (Jonesboro), AR 72467; e-mail:
ksifford@astate.edu.
Received: November 20, 2008; Accepted: March 26, 2009; Posted: July 31,
2009
doi:10.3928/19404921-20090706-01
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