Perception of Old Age by the Inhabitants of Poland

Attitude towards Older People According to Sociodemographic and Educational Variables in Students of a Chilean University

Current evidence suggests that attitude towards older people may be associated with sociodemographic and educational variables; hence, a positive attitude towards older people is key when training new university professionals. However, there is little evidence of this association in Chilean university students. The objective was to analyze students from a Chilean university's attitudes towards older people, according to sociodemographic and educational variables. Analytical and cross-sectional study; 515 students from a Chilean university were consulted online about their attitude towards older people using Kogan's Attitudes towards Old People scale. Additionally, sociodemographic and educational variables were recorded. The average score for positive attitude was 70.8 (±9.7), while the negative attitude score was 68.3 (±11.6). The total score was 139.1 (±16.6). Mostly, university students perceive themselves with a low-level positive attitude (61.2%). Additionally, older university students (26-42 years old); women; Chileans; students of law, speech therapy, and occupational therapy; students in their final years of the programs; and those who had training in older people outside the university have a more positive attitude towards older people. In Conclusion, a profile of sociodemographic and educational characteristics of students with a lower and higher attitude towards older age was investigated. These results are relevant since the way of seeing the aging process could regulate the training of future professionals and consequently generate changes in dealing with older people. Young people's perception of ageing would affect the treatment and incorporation of the older people in society and the adaptation of policies in this age group.

Attitudes toward older people among nursing students in Greece

BACKGROUND

The age profile of the population has shifted globally. Age discrimination has been documented, particularly in the areas of health and employment.

AIM

This study aims at examining nursing students' attitudes toward older people and dehumanization of older people among nursing students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was employed in this study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, which included a sociodemographic variables questionnaire, the Kogan's Attitude towards Old People Scale (KAOP) scale, a modified version of the Human Nature & Human Uniqueness Scale, the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) and the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire. A total of 410 undergraduate nursing students participated in this study. Descriptive statistics were applied while inferential statistics such as Pearson correlation, and regression analysis with the stepwise method were also performed. The significant level was set as p ≤ .05. SPSS-25 was used for the analysis of data.

RESULTS

The total mean score of the KAOP scale was 128.84 ± 14.32, indicating that nursing students had a slightly positive view of older individuals. Nursing students scored higher on the mechanistic dehumanization scale than on the animalistic dehumanization one. A strong negative association was found between Mechanistic and Animalistic dehumanization with the KAOP scale and empathy. Year of study, age, and gender were identified as predictor variables for mechanical dehumanization.

CONCLUSION

Personality traits, demographic variables, and nursing students' level of empathy are factors that influence their views about older people and the dehumanization of older people.

Roy adaptation model-based nursing diagnosis and implementation reduces the sense of shame and enhances nursing outcomes in female patients with breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the role of Roy adaptation model (RAM)-based nursing diagnosis and implementation in regulating the sense of shame and improving the nursing outcomes of female patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

The clinical data of 69 female patients with breast cancer treated in our hospital from October 2019 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who received conventional care were included in a control group, and those who received RAM-based nursing were included in an observation group. Patients in both groups were evaluated for sense of shame, emotional state, psychological resilience, self-esteem, quality of recovery scores and complication rates.

RESULTS

The scores of Perceived Devaluation and Discrimination Scale (PDD), Substance Use Stigma Mechanisms Scale (SUSMS) and Stigma Coping Scale (SCS) in the observation group were lower than those of the control group at the end of nursing (P < 0.05). The score of Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) in the observation group was lower than that in the control group at the end of nursing (P < 0.05). The levels of mental toughness, mental strength, and optimism scores in the observation group were higher than those of the control group at the end of nursing (P < 0.05). The score of Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES) in the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group at the end of nursing (P < 0.05). Psychosocial recovery, physical recovery, relationship with medical workers, marital relationship, and sexual function scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group at the end of nursing (P < 0.05). The incidence of complications was 5.71% in the observation group, lower than 23.53% in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

RAM-based nursing diagnosis and implementation can significantly reduce patients' sense of shame and negative emotions, improve patients' psychological resilience, quality of recovery, and quality of life, and reduce complications for female patients with breast cancer.

Attitudes Towards the Elderly in Polish Society: Is Knowledge About Old Age and Personal Experiences a Predictor of Ageism?

Purpose

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of ageism in Polish society. In addition, the relationships of opinions with demographic data, knowledge about aging and individual contact with the elderly, in the context of knowledge about their exclusion, were examined.

Patients and methods

The study involved 923 individuals in Poland. Their demographic characteristics were recorded, and all subjects were assessed using Kogan’s Attitudes toward Old People (KOAP) scale and asked to complete the Facts on Aging Quiz. Subjects were also asked about their knowledge of the definition of ageism and asked to explain it.

Results

The KOAP scale as a function of predictors was modeled using Bayesian robust linear regression with t distribution. The subjects had a mean (SD) KAOP score of 90.88 (17.41), with the central 50% of the observations ranging from 83 to 101 points. Three statistically credible relationships with responses to the questionnaires were observed. Respondents attending school had slightly lower average KAOP scores than respondents with other professional status. In addition, FAQ was negatively and moderately related to KAOP, whereas contacts with elderly people were positively and moderately related to KAOP.

Conclusion

Knowledge of aging and contact with elderly individuals significantly affected attitudes and behaviors regarding ageism. Many study subjects were characterized by having unfavorable attitudes towards the elderly.