RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REQUIRED CARE LEVEL AND CARE TIME IN PATIENTS WITH AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

• Published in: Japanese Journal of National Medical Services Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 141 - 145
• Main Authors: KUBO, Hiro-o, YAMADA, Takako, KAWAI, Takako, SAITO, Yufuko, SHINNO, Susumu, NUMAZAKI, Yukie, RIBA, Ikuko, IMAI, Takashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of National Medical Services 20.03.2002
• Subjects: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; care time; required care level; suction
• ISSN: 0021-1699; 1884-8729
• DOI: 10.11261/iryo1946.56.141

In collaborative research for Longevity Sciences from the Ministry Of Health and Welfare, entitled “Research on Guidelines for Long-term Care of Elderly Patients with Intractable Neurological Diseases” (Chief Researcher: Susumu Shinno), the care time was examined in 31 patients hospitalized with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in five National hospitals (Toneyama, Chiba-Higashi, Higashi-Nagoya, Chubu and Minami-Kyushu). The relationship between the care time and the required care level was investigated. 99% of cases hospitalized with ALS were at required care levels 4 and 5. Care time for all ALS cases was 197 minutes per day, which is much longer than the standard time for determination of the required care level. No difference in care time was detected between patients in the required care levels 4 and 5. Much more care time is needed for meals and medical care in care levels 4 cases than in level 5. Patients with assistance for oral ingestion had much more care time than nasal feeding patients. Medical care is very important in all care and it took much time to suck for twenty-four hours. It is desirable that suction is reflective in required care level judgement.