Hospital nurses’ knowledge regarding older patients: a multicenter study

Abstract

Background Nursing care in hospitals increasingly involves older adults. A nursing workforce able to care for the ageing population is therefore critical for ensuring quality older adult care. Gaining insight in the knowledge and attitudes of nurses regarding older patients in the Netherlands is needed to develop and increase the impact of education- and quality improvement programs which can positively influence nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding older patients. Methods A cross-sectional multicenter study was performed. Data was collected in ten tertiary medical teaching hospitals well spread across the Netherlands (89 wards, 2902 nurses). Knowledge levels were measured using the Knowledge about Older Patient-Quiz (KOP-Q), consisting of 30 true-false questions. Knowledge levels of registered nurses are compared with knowledge levels known from literature of first year nursing students; last year nursing students; nurses; and nurse specialist. Potential associated factors considered were: age; sex; education; experience; opinions and preferences. Opinion and preferences regarding working with older patients were measured by three questions: 1) which patient group nurses preferred to work with; 2) how nurses feel about the increase of older patients in the hospital; and 3) whether nurses find it difficult to care for older patients. Results From all wards, a representative sample of 1743 registered hospital nurses working on all 89 wards participated. On all wards, a large range in knowledge levels is observed between nurses, with 37% of nurses presenting knowledge levels comparable with nursing student and 31% of nurses presenting knowledge levels comparable with nurse specialists. Knowledge is related to age (p < .001), work experiences (p < .001), preparatory secondary education (p < .001) and nurses education level (p = .012). A minority (12.5%) prefers working with older patients and most nurses do not find it difficult. Conclusions This study shows that there is a large diversity in knowledge levels of Dutch hospital nurses in every hospital, on every ward. A majority of nurses demonstrate negative opinions and preferences. This implies that older patients admitted can receive different levels of quality of care on the same day as nurses with different knowledge levels provide care during the various shifts. Findings demonstrate an urgent need for education programs with themes regarding essential care for older patients in the Netherlands.

Evidence-based geriatric knowledge among healthcare providers in Vietnam: adaptation, validation, and pilot of the knowledge about older patients quiz

“…Our pilot study suggests geriatric knowledge gaps related to the physiopathology of geriatric conditions, communication techniques with sensory impaired older adults, and differentiating age related changes from abnormal changes or symptoms. Similarly, knowledge gaps related to geriatric conditions, such as delirium and incontinence care, were reported among Turkish and Dutch nurses [ 55 , 56 ]. Comprehensive geriatric knowledge is necessary for healthcare providers to provide evidence-based information on managing these conditions to older adults and their caregivers.…”

Determinants of Nurses’ Knowledge Toward the Elderly Care, Southwest, Ethiopia

“…A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data regarding nurses’ knowledge and its associated factors toward elderly care. The questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics were adopted after reviewing different kinds of literature ( Amsalu et al, 2021 ; Derks et al, 2021 ; Fita et al, 2021 ; Zeleke et al, 2018). Knowledge of nurses about elderly care was assessed by using the KOP-Q questionnaire ( Dikken, 2017 ).…”

“…A multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in the Netherlands found that nurses with experience are more likely to have good knowledge than those with no experience ( Derks et al, 2021 ). In addition, a cross-sectional study conducted in Addis Ababa and Bahr Dar found that years of experience were significantly associated with nurses’ knowledge of elderly care ( Amsalu et al, 2021 ; Zeleke et al, 2018).…”

Evaluation of the feasibility of an Education‐Career pathway in Healthcare for Older People (ECHO) for early career nurses

“…International experience suggests there is coexisting positive and negative attitudes towards caring for older people, but generally a minority of nurses have a distinct preference to work with older people (Deasey et al, 2014; Neville et al, 2014; Rush et al, 2017). Derks et al (2021) in a survey of 1743 nurses across ten acute care hospitals in the Netherlands, reported that only 12.5% of nurses preferred to work with older patients. This group of nurses tended to be older and more experienced, while across the study cohort, there was wide variability in knowledge on caring for older people (Derks et al, 2021).…”

“…Derks et al (2021) in a survey of 1743 nurses across ten acute care hospitals in the Netherlands, reported that only 12.5% of nurses preferred to work with older patients. This group of nurses tended to be older and more experienced, while across the study cohort, there was wide variability in knowledge on caring for older people (Derks et al, 2021).…”