The Impact of Knowledge on the Formation of Attitudes Towards Ageing and the Elderly

Abstract

Background: With the global trend towards an increasing aging population, there is a corresponding increase in the health problems associated with elderly population. Older people need more and more health services. According to the fews research, influencing factors on health care practice of the health workers towards the elderly in geriatric hospitals included knowledge, attitude, and gerontological education.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if education in gerontology affects attitude towards ageing and the elderly among students at the University of Split. An additional objective was to determine the extent to which the students’ socio-demographic status (age, sex, domicile), different education and experience of life with the elderly affect their attitude towards ageing and the elderly.Methods: The population included in this study consisted of 301 students of the University of Split, 153 of whom attended the Faculty of Maritime Studies and 148 the School of Medicine. A total of 45 students had attended training in gerontology, while 265 had none. Information was gathered through a questionnaire that consisted of 3 parts: one investigating their socio-demographic characteristics, another looking into their attitudes towards the elderly (the Kogan score scale) and Palmer’s competence test.Results: A difference in attitude has been observed between students who had had training in gerontology compared to those who had none. Socio-demographic factors, different education and the experience of life with the elderly also affect student attitudes. Overall, School of Medicine students had a more positive attitude than those of the Faculty of Maritime Studies.Conclusion: Education in gerontology helps form a more positive attitude towards the elderly among students, meaning that educational programs should be changed with the aim of reducing the stigmatization of the elderly.

Attitudes toward older people among nursing students in Greece

“…There has also been evidence of age discrimination, particularly in the fields of employment and health 3 . According to research, ageism, 4 a problem characterized by a lack of acknowledgment or limitation of the rights of the elder population, 5 was paved by negativity and biases regarding older people and old age in general 4 . Ageism is defined as segregation based on chronological age, refusal to accept individual approaches to the aged after reaching a particular age, capacity determination, and social role attribution based on chronological age 5 .…”

“…According to research, ageism, 4 a problem characterized by a lack of acknowledgment or limitation of the rights of the elder population, 5 was paved by negativity and biases regarding older people and old age in general 4 . Ageism is defined as segregation based on chronological age, refusal to accept individual approaches to the aged after reaching a particular age, capacity determination, and social role attribution based on chronological age 5 . Because of its implicit and subconscious nature, ageism affects people of all ages, although it is most common among older people.…”

“…4 Ageism is defined as segregation based on chronological age, refusal to accept individual approaches to the aged after reaching a particular age, capacity determination, and social role attribution based on chronological age. 5 Because of its implicit and subconscious nature, ageism affects people of all ages, although it is most common among older people. It is deeply ingrained, widely accepted, and unchallenged.…”