Rehabilitation Nursing Care for Older Adults with Impaired Fine Motor Function: From Design to Validation

TL;DR

This study develops and validates a nursing care model to help older adults regain fine motor skills, aiming to improve their independence.

Contribution

The study introduces a validated five-step rehabilitation nursing care design specifically for older adults with impaired fine motor function.

Findings

A five-step care model was developed and validated using the e-Delphi technique with expert input.

The model includes data collection, nursing diagnoses, objectives, intervention planning, and outcome evaluation.

Photographic records of exercises were integrated into the intervention planning step.

Abstract

Background: Population ageing and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, particularly stroke, have negative repercussions on fine motor function, compromising the independence of older adults. The Specialist Nurse in Rehabilitation Nursing plays a central role in functional recovery and in improving quality of life. This study aims to describe the process of developing and validating the design of rehabilitation nursing care for older adults with impaired fine motor function. Methods: This paper is a three-phase methodological study conducted between January and July 2025: (1) initial development of the design of rehabilitation nursing care for older adults with impaired fine motor function; (2) validation of the content of the proposed design, using the modified e-Delphi technique; and (3) development of the final model of the care design. Results: The e-Delphi study, involving a panel of 15 experts, allowed the content validation of the design of rehabilitation nursing care for older adults with impaired fine motor function after two rounds. Following the suggestions, the final care design model, in relation to fine motor function, comprises five steps: (1) collection of relevant data, (2) identification of possible nursing diagnoses, (3) definition of objectives, (4) planning and implementation of interventions, and (5) evaluation of outcomes. As part of step 4, photographic records of exercises focused on the recovery of fine motor function were included. Conclusions: The final model of the design of rehabilitation nursing care for older adults with impaired fine motor function, developed and validated in this study, may serve as a guiding framework in the delivery of specialised care to this population.

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