Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses Towards the Disabled and Awareness of Applications for the Disabled in a University Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Population of the disabled is increasing worldwide and the disabled face with many limitations due to various social and physical obstacles. It is important that the practices that are made in order to provide the ideal health care service for the disabled are in compliance with the current legislation and that the attitudes of health personnel are positive. The present study aims at determining the awareness of the physicians and nurses in a university hospital about the applications for the disabled and their attitudes towards the disabled. Method: This cross-sectional study was completed with 220 participants in Kahramanmaraş Sütçü Imam University Hospital. Data were obtained by using a socio-demographic data form and Scale of Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons (SADP) for participants through face to face interviews. Chi-square test, Independent Samples t test and One Way ANOVA were used for assessment of data. Results: Of the participants, 41,4% are physicians, 58,6% are nurses; 62,7% are women. the Mean age is 27,3±5,8 years; 49,6% have 2-4-year professional time and 4,1% of the participants have a disabled person in their family. With respect to the regulations for the disabled in the hospital in which the research was carried out, 25% of the participants stated that there is a car park for the disabled, 24,1% stated that there is a washbasin and toilet for the disabled, 10,5% there is a disabled lift, 23,6% there are guide signs, 14,5% there is a ramp, 9,1% there is welcoming personnel, 3,2% there is personnel who know sign language, 24.5% of the participants stated that the disabled have priority Mean SADP scores was 64,34±13,19, the attitudes of health professionals towards the disabled was found to be moderate. While there is a significant difference between SADP scores with regard to the education level and professional time of the participants (p<0,05), no significant difference was found with regard to occupation, gender, age group, marital status, having children and having a disabled person in their family (p>0,05). Conclusion: Physicians and nurses have low awareness for practices for disabled people at the hospital, and the attitudes towards the disabled are overall moderate despite being positive. The curriculum of health personnel should be re-arranged and raise the awareness of the society should be ensured for improving the attitudes towards the disabled.Giriş: Dünya genelinde engelli nüfus oranı artmakta olup engelli bireyler çeşitli sosyal ve fiziksel engellerden dolayı birçok sınırlılıklarla karşılaşmaktadır. Engellilere yönelik ideal sağlık hizmeti sunulabilmesi için yapılan uygulamaların güncel mevzuata uygun olması ve sağlık personelinin tutumlarının olumlu yönde olması önemlidir. Bu çalışmada üniversite hastanesindeki doktor ve hemşirelerin engellilere yönelik uygulamalardan haberdar olma durumlarının ve engellilere yönelik tutumlarının belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Kesitsel nitelikteki çalışmaya Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversite Hastanesi’ndeki toplam 220 doktor ve hemşire katılmıştır. Veriler sosyo-demografik veri formu ve Engellilere Yönelik Tutum Ölçeği’nin (YEKYTÖ) yüz yüze uygulanmasıyla elde edilmiştir. Verilerin değerlendirilmesinde Ki-kare Testi, İki Ortalama Arasındaki Farkın Önemlilik Testi ve Tek Yönlü Varyans Analizi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların %41,4’ü doktor, %58,6’sı hemşire, %62,7’si kadındır. Yaş ortalaması 27,3±5,8 yıl, %49,6’sının meslekte hizmet süresi 2-4 yıldır. Katılımcıların %4,1’i ailesinde engelli birey olduğunu belirtmiştir. Hastanede engellilere yönelik düzenlemeler konusunda katılımcıların %25’i araç park yeri, %24,1’i lavabo/tuvalet, %10,5’i asansör, %23,6’sı yönlendirme işaretleri, %14,5’i çıkış rampası, %9,1’i karşılama personeli, %3,2’si işaret dili bilen personel olduğunu, %24,5’i engellilere öncelik verildiğini belirtmiştir. Katılımcıların engellilere yönelik tutum ölçeği ortalama puanları 64,34±13,19 olup, engellilere yönelik tutumları orta düzeydedir. Engellilere yönelik tutumların öğrenim düzeyi ve meslekte hizmet süresine göre anlamlı farklılık göstermesine karşılık (p<0,05); meslek, cinsiyet, yaş grubu, evlilik durumu, çocuğu olma durumu ve ailesinde engelli birey olma durumunun ise bu tutumlar üzerine anlamlı etkisi yoktur (p>0,05). Sonuç: Doktor ve hemşirelerin hastanede engelli bireylere yönelik yapılan uygulamalarla ilgili farkındalığı düşüktür ve engellilere yönelik tutumları olumlu olmakla birlikte genel olarak orta düzeydedir. Engellilere yönelik tutumların olumlu yönde olması için sağlık personelinin eğitim müfredatı düzenlenmeli ve toplumun farkındalık kazanması sağlanmalıdır.

The Attitude of Healthcare Professionals Towards Disabled Individuals

“…In our study, according to the marital status of the participants, the attitude of single individuals towards disabled individuals was found to be more favourable than married individuals (Table 2). Kılıç and Çıtıl (17) reported differently from our study, and found the marital status of the participants did not have a significant effect on the attitudes of the participants towards disabled individuals.…”

“…This result shows that healthcare professionals have positive attitudes towards people with disabilities. Kılıç and Çıtıl's study with physicians and nurses in performed in 2019 revealed a moderate positive attitude, similar to our study (17) . Sarı et al (16) reported that nursing students had positive attitudes towards disabled people.…”

“…This shows that male nursing students have more negative attitudes towards disabled individuals than female nursing students. On the other hand, in the study of Kılıç and Çıtıl (17) performed in 2019, no significant difference was found between the participants' attitudes towards disabled individuals according to their gender. The fact that women have more favourable attitudes can be explained by their gender characteristics such as being more caring, compassionate, affectionate, emotional, and sensitive to the feelings and thoughts of others.…”

“…The scale scores of both undergraduate and graduate degree participants were found to be higher than associate and high school graduates, and they maintained more favourable attitudes towards disabled individuals (Table 2). Kılıç and Çıtıl (17) , reported that there was an inverse relationship between the education level of the participants and their attitudes towards disabled individuals. Similarly, in a study conducted in Manisa/Turkey, it was observed that as the education level increased, the positive attitude towards disabled individuals decreased; and it was determined that the positive attitudes of individuals with elementary education and below were statistically significantly stronger than those with higher education levels (22) .…”

“…In our study, the ATDP scale scores of those who stated that they wanted to participate in an education/training or activity related to disability were significantly higher than those who did not (Table 2). There are studies revealing that the status of receiving education for the disabled significantly affects the attitudes towards people affected by disability significantly (13,17) .…”