AGITATION - MEASUREMENT, MANAGEMENT, AND INTERVENTION RESEARCH

Strategies for controlling and managing agitation of patients in long- term care populations has been identified as a research priority. unfo rtunately, there is a paucity of literature on empirically tested ther apeutic interventions for agitation, This manuscript summarizes the li terature related to the measurement, management, and interventions for agitation and identifies a nursing research agenda for conducting res earch in this area, Nonpharmacological and nonrestraint interventions are highlighted and categorized by (1) alterations in care given, (2) environmental adaptations, and (3) behavioral approaches, Future resea rch areas identified by the authors focus on additional types of envir onmental, interpersonal, and behavioral interventions as well as theor etical predictors of agitation; the influence and role of nursing pers onnel and caregiver; and the legal and ethical issues involved in cari ng for patients who manifest agitation. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Sau nders Company