Knowledge and Attitude Towards Older Adults

Gerontological or geriatric nursing is the field of nursing that specializes in the care of elderly. Throughout the curriculum, students can experience caring for individuals with complex needs relating to family, values and beliefs, economics, living arrangements, treatment, support, and community services. To ascertain the quality and effective care for older people in future it is important to understand what the attitude and knowledge of nursing students’ toward older people is. The present study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude towards older adults among nursing students of MCOMS, Pokhara, Nepal.

The descriptive survey approach was adopted for the present study and conducted in Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal. The tools consists of demographic proforma, standardized Palmore's Fact on Ageing Quiz and Kogan's Attitude Scale towards Older Adults. Data was collected by self administered standardized questionaire using non – randomized purposive sampling technique. The data was analyzed using Excel 2007, R 2.8.0 Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPPS) for Windows Version 16.0 (SPSS Inc; Chicago, IL, USA).

Majority of participant (69.3%) were of age group 18 –20years, (57.1%) were from CTEVT,(100%) were unmarried, (79.3%) were from nuclear family,(77.9%) were of Hindu religion,(57.1%) did not have elderly at home,(100%) cared elderly and had knowledge on ageing. The dominant source of knowledge was nursing college (41.4%). Majority of nursing students had average knowledge i.e (95%), and only (5%) had good knowledge regarding older adults. majority of nursing students had average attitude i.e. (94%) and (6%) had good attitude towards older adults. Mean knowledge score is 12.47(51.96%).Mean attitude score is 126.94(62.23%).

Majority of nursing students had average knowledge towards older adults and average attitude. Yet less knowledge towards older adults can impede the care provided. So, the concerned authority should focus elderly health and care of older adults in the nursing curriculum to enhance competence of students in clinical practice. Adequate knowledge towards older adults helps nursing students to provide effective and quality to older adults so that they can provide holistic care to prevent development of complications on elderly health.