International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Abstract

Nurses' Attitudes towards Older People: Report from a Single Institution Study

Yasemin Kavlak, Selda Yıldız and Ozgur Akin Tug

Background: Discrimination against the elderly is generally a definition used for the whole of the bias, negative attitudes, acts and corporate arrangements developed against elderly individuals and growing old. The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of nurses concerning discrimination against the elderly and the factors that influence these attitudes.

Methods: This was a descriptive study. Two hundred forty-four nurses between the ages of 18 and 54, who provide one-on-one services to elderly individuals at a medical faculty teaching hospital, and who agreed to take part voluntarily, were included in the study. The tools used to collect data were a questionnaire prepared in line with the literature that contained personal and occupational questions and an Ageism Attitude Scale.

Results: Two hundred forty-four nurses with an average age of 31.79 ± 8.0 participated in the study. There was a significant difference in the average Ageism Attitude Scale total and sub-dimension scores of the participants according to their educational status, age, marital status and manner of working (p<0.05). It was also found that the average Ageism Attitude Scale total and sub-dimension scores of those who had received (or wished to receive) training on old age during their employment and those who did not see the elderly as just a group in the hospital were significantly higher (p<0.05).

Conclusion: It is possible for attitudes of discrimination against the elderly to be affected positively by improving the working conditions of nurses working with elderly individuals and by organizing training programs that will increase information, skills and awareness about old age.