Association Between Nursing Diagnoses and Clinical Characteristics of Indigenous Older Adults of the Potiguara Ethnic Group

Aim: To determine if there is an association between nursing diagnoses and the clinical characteristics of Potiguara indigenous older adults. Design: This was a quantitative, cross‐sectional analytical study. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional study with 51 indigenous older adults in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Data were collected in August 2019 through nursing consultations. Nursing diagnoses were established using the NANDA International and Risner’s proposed diagnostic reasoning process. Chi‐square and Fisher’s exact tests were used for analysis. Findings: The results revealed several statistically significant associations. Specifically, female gender was linked to diagnoses of chronic pain, impaired walking ability, and stress urinary incontinence. For those 80 years or older, we found an association with a risk for impaired fluid volume balance and a risk for adult falls. Furthermore, having a chronic illness was associated with impaired walking ability, and continuous medication use was also connected to both impaired walking ability and a risk for adult falls. Conclusions: Being female, aged 80 years or older, having a chronic illness, and continuously using medication were all associated with nursing diagnoses related to geriatric syndromes. These syndromes can impact the functionality and quality of life of Potiguara older adults. The study’s results support efforts to improve nursing care for the indigenous elderly population by addressing common nursing diagnoses and their associated clinical factors. This approach strengthens care based on the nursing process and enhances the development of nurses’ diagnostic reasoning.