Nurses' general attitudes and caregiving-specific perceptions toward the oldest-old: A nationwide survey.
Aged 80 and over
Ageism
Attitude of health personnel
Geriatrics
Nursing staff
Perception
Journal
International journal of nursing studies
ISSN: 1873-491X
Titre abrégé: Int J Nurs Stud
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0400675
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Dec 2022
Dec 2022
Historique:
received:
04
04
2022
revised:
23
09
2022
accepted:
04
10
2022
pubmed:
11
11
2022
medline:
25
2
2023
entrez:
10
11
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Despite the growing population of older adults worldwide, nurses may harbor negative attitudes toward older patients that might risk patient safety. Most studies have investigated general attitudes toward older adults. Only a few have focused on nurses' perceptions of caring for older patients, and there has been little focus on the oldest-old (aged ≥80 years), an age group that is particularly affected by negative attitudes. Emerging models to combat this issue suggest that education about aging and interaction with older adults are key factors. These models have primarily been evaluated using students, not healthcare professionals. To examine if and to what extent education (training and education about working with older people) and interaction (professional and personal contact with older adults) are associated with nurses' general attitudes toward older persons and their perceptions of caring for older patients (aged ≥80 years). A cross-sectional survey study. A nationwide sample of 2294 Swedish registered nurses with background characteristics reflective of the national nursing population. Emails with study information and survey links were distributed via the Swedish Association of Health Professionals' registry. The survey contained one instrument that measures general attitudes toward older adults and one that measures perceptions of caring for older patients. Following the Positive Education about Aging and Contact Experiences model, items about participants' education and their professional and personal interaction with the oldest-old adults were also included. Descriptive and comparative analyses were conducted. Multiple regression models used general attitudes and caregiving-specific perceptions as dependent variables in each model. Nurses' general attitudes and caregiving-specific perceptions were correlated. Regression analyses revealed that the education and interaction variables were independently associated with general attitudes and caregiving-specific perceptions, but these associations followed different directions. An older family member/close friend, extensive work experience, and working primarily in administration were independently associated with more positive general attitudes toward the oldest-old adults. Working in home care or assisted living, having education in geriatrics/gerontology, and frequent interaction with older patients were associated with less favorable general attitudes but more positive perceptions of caring for the oldest-old patients. Our results highlight the complex relationship between nurses' general attitudes and their caregiving-specific perceptions toward the oldest-old persons. Education in geriatrics/gerontology and interaction with older adults are warranted to improve nurses' caregiving-specific perceptions. Appropriate scales that consider this complexity beyond general attitudes are needed to capture caregiving-specific and contextual perceptions.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Despite the growing population of older adults worldwide, nurses may harbor negative attitudes toward older patients that might risk patient safety. Most studies have investigated general attitudes toward older adults. Only a few have focused on nurses' perceptions of caring for older patients, and there has been little focus on the oldest-old (aged ≥80 years), an age group that is particularly affected by negative attitudes. Emerging models to combat this issue suggest that education about aging and interaction with older adults are key factors. These models have primarily been evaluated using students, not healthcare professionals.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
To examine if and to what extent education (training and education about working with older people) and interaction (professional and personal contact with older adults) are associated with nurses' general attitudes toward older persons and their perceptions of caring for older patients (aged ≥80 years).
DESIGN
METHODS
A cross-sectional survey study.
PARTICIPANTS
METHODS
A nationwide sample of 2294 Swedish registered nurses with background characteristics reflective of the national nursing population.
METHODS
METHODS
Emails with study information and survey links were distributed via the Swedish Association of Health Professionals' registry. The survey contained one instrument that measures general attitudes toward older adults and one that measures perceptions of caring for older patients. Following the Positive Education about Aging and Contact Experiences model, items about participants' education and their professional and personal interaction with the oldest-old adults were also included. Descriptive and comparative analyses were conducted. Multiple regression models used general attitudes and caregiving-specific perceptions as dependent variables in each model.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Nurses' general attitudes and caregiving-specific perceptions were correlated. Regression analyses revealed that the education and interaction variables were independently associated with general attitudes and caregiving-specific perceptions, but these associations followed different directions. An older family member/close friend, extensive work experience, and working primarily in administration were independently associated with more positive general attitudes toward the oldest-old adults. Working in home care or assisted living, having education in geriatrics/gerontology, and frequent interaction with older patients were associated with less favorable general attitudes but more positive perceptions of caring for the oldest-old patients.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Our results highlight the complex relationship between nurses' general attitudes and their caregiving-specific perceptions toward the oldest-old persons. Education in geriatrics/gerontology and interaction with older adults are warranted to improve nurses' caregiving-specific perceptions. Appropriate scales that consider this complexity beyond general attitudes are needed to capture caregiving-specific and contextual perceptions.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36356546
pii: S0020-7489(22)00208-5
doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104379
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
104379Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.