Using the Relating to Older People Evaluation tool to measure ageism in higher education

Abstract

The global population is ageing, and this trend is expected to continue. Cultures around the world socialise with older people differently with distinctive attitudes towards ageing. Ageism is a complex multifaceted concept that includes attitudes and behaviours. In the UK, ageism and discriminatory practices exist within nursing, and nurse educationalists and clinicians need to address ageist attitudes and promote older people care as healthcare needs increase. Within the context of nursing there is a lack of synthesised evidence which measures ageism amongst nursing students. This paper examines the Relating to Older People Evaluation (ROPE) questionnaire which has been used in different student populations in Higher Education (HE) including nursing students. A systematic search across databases was conducted from June 2007 to December 2017 resulting in 6 quantitative studies. Statistical analysis of ROPE was not possible, so a thematic analysis of the narrative was completed identifying two themes: attitudes predict behaviour and socialisation to ageism in HE. There remains a need to explore ageism and ageist attitudes of student nurses in HE. The ROPE is a suitable tool to measure student nurses' ageist attitudes and behaviours.

Association of nurses' level of knowledge and attitudes to ageism toward older adults: Cross‐sectional study

“…were significantly associated with the nurses' negative ageism is consistent with previous studies (Burhenn, Shirley Johnson, & Hurria, 2016;Cronin & Brooke, 2019). Burhenn et al (2016) found that knowledge about aging was negatively associated with the nurses' negative ageism.…”

“…Burhenn et al (2016) found that knowledge about aging was negatively associated with the nurses' negative ageism. Cronin and Brooke (2019) found that differences in the level of negative ageism among nurses were due to variance in their level of negative attitudes. According to Kang et al (2017), an educational program to improve nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward older adults can decrease nurses' negative ageism and prejudice (Drury, Hutchison, & Abrams, 2016).…”

Enhancing students’ preparedness to care for older people: A mixed methods analysis

“…Herein lies the challenge of determining the optimal delivery of educational interventions designed to prepare students for clinical placements. Recollection following an intervention relies on the time gaps (Groves, Bunch, Cram, & Perkhounkova, 2018) hence, repeating and scaffolding such innovations across curricula are important to maximise recall, reduce the likelihood of continuing ageist attitudes and behaviours developing during the course of the nursing degree (Cronin & Brooke, 2019), and qualify the greater potential of such interventions.…”