Using an Innovative Portable Shower Bed to Improve Current Bathing Methods and Enhance the Physical Comfort of Terminally Ill Patients in Home Environments

• Published in: Hu li za zhi Vol. 62; no. 3 Suppl; pp. 74 - 82
• Main Authors: Tu, Shu-Wen, Chen, Hsiao-Ni, Huang, Shu-He
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China (Republic : 1949- ) Taiwan Nurses Association 01.06.2015
• Subjects: Baths - methods; Beds; Caregivers; Home Care Services; Home health care; Humans; Nursing; Patient Satisfaction; Surveys and Questionnaires; Terminal illnesses; Terminally Ill; activities of daily living (ADL); shower bed; bathing; home care; terminal ill
• ISSN: 0047-262X
• DOI: 10.6224/JN.62.3S.74

Terminally ill patients frequently suffer from physical distress and a limited ability to perform activities of daily living. Bathing is a particularly troublesome problem for these patients, as the limitations of the home environment increase the challenges for caregivers to bathe terminally ill patients at home. This study was developed to alter the current bathing methods of terminally ill patients in order to improve their physical comfort and to help caregivers better facilitate home-bathing care for their patients. A "portable shower bed" was introduced to allow patients to bathe in their own beds. The tools used to evaluate results were the Bathing and Physical Comfort Scale and the self-developed Bathing Satisfaction Questionnaire. A total of 90% of participants expressed satisfaction with the portable shower bed. Furthermore, the average physical comfort score of participants improved from 3.9 to 6.13. The innovative portable shower bed is inexpensive, practical, foldable, easy to operate, safe, and