Willingness and attitudes toward elderly care among nurses at a medical center in central Taiwan

Background: With aging populations steadily rising, elderly care has become one of the primary healthcare issues of the 21st century. Caregiver willingness and attitudes are critical factors affecting quality of care for the elderly. Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore the willingness and attitudes toward elderly care and related factors among nurses in a medical center. Methods: This study used a purposive sampling approach. Two hundred clinical nurses convenience sampled from a medical center in central Taiwan who met inclusion criteria received the structured study questionnaire. Three-quarters (152, 76.0%) of the questionnaires were returned. The questionnaire consisted of a basic demographics datasheet and attitudes toward old people scale. Data were collected during April 2011. Statistical methods, including t-test, chi-square, ANOVA, and multiple and logistic regression, analyzed data using SPSS 12.0 for Windows. Results: Willingness and attitudes toward elderly care differed significantly among different nursing departments. Differences in care-giving willingness were significantly associated with education level, nursing department, and elderly care burden. Average scores indicated a relatively positive attitude toward the elderly. Slightly over twothirds (69.1%) of participants expressed willingness to care for the elderly. Such willingness was 0.395 times higher among nurses in the medical department than in the surgical department. Preference to "regularly" provide care to elderly clients was 0.172 times that of "often" providing care. Willingness of care among participants with a bachelor degree was 4.520 times that of those with a technical college degree. Participants who had never had related education were 0.272 times as willing to provide elderly care as those who had. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: The results of this study provided information regarding the willingness and attitudes toward elderly care of clinical nurses. Education on elderly care can improve nurses' willingness. The authors suggest placing increased importance on elderly-related education and including relevant courses in professional continuing training curricula to enhance nurse willingness and attitudes toward elderly care and promote elderly care quality.