Mental Health Nurses’ Clinical Experiences Among People with Age-Related Neurocognitive Impairment in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Need for increased awareness of specialized age-related neurocognitive care among nurses is increasing but in Saudi Arabia, awareness of the special needs of and approaches to care for this group remains underdeveloped. To illuminate the needs and perceptions of practicing nurses who have experienced the provision of care to acute patients whose cognition ranged from mild to major cognitive impairment. A qualitative study to inquire into the perceptions of 18 Saudi mental health (MH) nursing graduate students with direct experience of mental health care. Participants were divided into two focus groups which met simultaneously. Inductive data was analyzed for thematic content. Four principal themes and subthemes emerged from the data: (i) roles and responsibilities; (ii) barriers; (iii) the need to improve training; and (iv) support services. Nurses with mental healthcare experience emphasized the importance of roles and responsibility in providing care, barriers to providing care, and dissatisfaction with institutional support and professional training related to age related neurocognitive impairment care in acute settings. This study may assist in providing impetus toward much needed evidence-based research related to age-related neurocognitive impairment, attuned to Saudi needs and may provide an important step in developing and delivering care.