NURSING HOMES NURSES' ATTITUDES TOWARD OLDER PEOPLE AND AFFECTING FACTORS

Introduction: The quality of nursing care for older people in nursing homes is closely related to nurses' attitudes toward older people. This study was conducted to determine the attitudes of nurses working in nursing homes and to determine the factors affecting attitudes of nurses. Materials and Method: A descriptive study design was used. The sample consisted of 83 nurses, accounting for 79% of the research population. Participant Information Form and Kogan's Attitudes Toward Old People scale were used. The study utilized the value, mean, percentage frequency distribution and correlation, independent t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Mean total of Kogan's score of the nurses who were working in seven nursing homes at the time of the study reached 144.75 [standard deviation (sd)=16.6]. Mean age of participants was 33.9 (sd=7.6); 88% of the participants were females. The number of participants who received no geriatric education before working and while they were students totaled 91.6% and 72%, respectively. Nearly half of the participants (47%) claimed previous experience of care giving for older people. A statistically significant difference was observed between gender, previous experience of care for older people, and average score in Kogan's scale. Conclusion: Results showed that the nurses working in nursing homes showed slightly positive attitudes toward older people. Gender and care giving experience were determined as factors that influence attitudes toward older people.