Dutch nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes towards older people - A longitudinal cohort study

Abstract

Background: Due to changing demographics in the population, the majority of current nursing students will work mostly with older people after graduation. It is known that most nursing students have little knowledge and interests in working with older people. There is a growing need for motivated nurses to provide care for older people as the quality of care is influenced by their attitudes. The objective of this study is to investigate Dutch nursing students' knowledge of and attitudes toward older people and their willingness to work with older people and how this knowledge and attitudes changes after three years education. Methods:A longitudinal cohort study with follow-up among 113 first-year Dutch nursing students pursuing a Bachelor's degree was conducted. Data for this study was collected with three instruments. Knowledge of the first-year students was assessed with Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz. Students' attitudes were measured with the Aging Semantic Differential scale and Kogan's Attitudes toward Older People scale. The same measurements were also obtained three years later when they were fourth-year nursing students. The first data collection started in 2005. The follow-up period took place between 2008 and 2009. Results:The results show that the nursing students have a moderate knowledge level about older people: first-year students answered less than half of the questions correctly and after three years, almost half of the questions were answered properly. The attitude of the students toward older people on the ASD changed from slightly negative to neutral after three years of education. The attitude of nursing students on the OP changed from moderately neutral to slightly positive. Few first and fourth-year students (2.7% and 3.7%) were interested in working with older people after their nursing education. Most students (72.8%) indicated that working with older people would be as satisfying as working with younger people. Conclusion:Nursing students are not well prepared for working with predominately older people. Education should focus on increasing positive working experiences with older people. Revision and improvement in the curricula might be needed to enhance the knowledge and attitudes of the Dutch nursing students.

The evaluation of undergraduate nurses' attitudes, perspectives and perceptions toward older people

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