Nurses knowledge and attitude about elderly patients care and associated factors at Western Amhara Referral Hospitals, Ethiopia,2020

Abstract

Introduction:The quality of care given to elderly individuals is affected by the occupational knowledge, skills and experience of caregivers. The study aimed to assess nurses knowledge and attitude about elderly patients care and associated factors at Western Amhara Referral Hospitals, Ethiopia,2020. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March15 to May15/2020 among nurses working in Western Amhara Referral Hospitals .A total of 540 participants were enrolled in the study .A stratified simple random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. The questionnaire adapted from Knowledge about Older Patients-Quiz and Older People in Acute Care Survey was used to measure knowledge and attitude respectively. Epi info version 7.2.1.0 for data entry and SPSS version 20 for data analysis were used.Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted.Odd ratio with 95% CI and p-value <0.05 with 95% CI were considered to be significant factors. Result: A total of 540 participants were enrolled in the study with a response rate of 94.4%.Nurses knowledge and attitude towards elder patient care were 36.3%(95 %CI:32-40.8) and 39.6% (95%CI:35.4-43.9) respectively. Participants with bachelors de gree (AOR=2.848,95%CI:1.148-7.064),masters degree (AOR=3.338,95%CI:1.064-10.4 73),6-10 year of experience (AOR=1.618,95%CI:1.074-2.439) and >10 year experience( AOR=2.327,95%CI:1.354-3.999) had significant association with knowledge.Similarly,pa rticipants with bachelors degree (AOR=2.999,95%CI:1.194-7.532),masters degree(AOR =6.494,95%CI:2.030-20.772),living with an elder person (AOR=1.830,95%CI:1.159-2.89 1)and effective communication of nurses (AOR=1.495,95%CI:1.027-2.178) had significa nt association with attitude. Conclusion and recommendations: More than half of nurses were not knowledgeable and had unfavorable attitude towards care of elder patient. Level of education and year of experience were factors associated with knowledge of nurses. Whereas, level of education, living with an elder person and communication of nurses were factors associated with nurse’s attitude. Therefore,Staff development should be planned and implemented. Key words: Knowledge, Attitude, Care, Nurses, Elder, Ethiopia