ASSESSMENT OF NURSES’ KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES REGARDING ELDERLY PATIENT CARE
Keywords:
Elderly Care, Geriatric Nursing, Nurses’ Knowledge, Nurses’ Attitude, Aging Population, Long-Term Care, Psychosocial Support, Geriatric HealthAbstract
Background: Globally, there are approximately 605 million adults aged 60 years and above, and this number is projected to rise to two billion by 2050, with 80% residing in developing countries. Elderly individuals often require long-term psychosocial support, nursing care, and hospitalization due to diverse health challenges.
Aim: The study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of nurses toward caring for elderly patients.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected from nurses meeting the inclusion criteria.
Results: Findings revealed that 68 nurses (47.9%) demonstrated low levels of knowledge, while 90 nurses (63.4%) exhibited a positive attitude toward elderly care.
Conclusion: The study concluded that while many nurses demonstrated a positive attitude toward caring for elderly patients, their knowledge remained moderate, highlighting the need for targeted training and continuous professional education to enhance geriatric care.
