Attitudes Toward General Elders and Elders with Dementia Among Baccalaureate Junior Nursing Students

Kim, Jung Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study investigated attitudes toward general elders and elders with dementia among nursing students before beginning the clinical practicum. In addition, students' characteristics differentiating the attitudes were examined.
METHODS
Attitudes were measured with questionnaires developed for Asian culture at the beginning week of the first semester of the junior year in two baccalaureate programs. Responses from 120 out of 121 students were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, paired t-test, ANOVA, and Scheffe test.
RESULTS
Students held negative attitudes toward both types of elders except for generosity dimension toward general elders showing a neutral attitude. Elders with dementia were evaluated more negatively than general elders in all the dimensions of vitality, generosity and flexibility. Vitality and generosity toward general elders were different according to intimacy and the degree of communication with elders. Generosity toward general elders was also different according to students' religious beliefs. Students with interest in elders/issues showed more negative attitudes of vitality and flexibility toward elders with dementia.
CONCLUSIONS
Students in general had negative attitudes toward elders and more negative attitudes toward elders with dementia. We need to put more efforts into the entire nursing curriculum in order to improve attitudes toward elders with particular concern over attitudes toward elders with dementia.