Butler's three constructs of ageism inAustralasian Journal on Ageing

Factors associated with nursing students' attitudes toward older people: A scoping review

Nursing students rate geriatric nursing poorly in career preferences, but aging populations mean more older people require access to health care. Negative attitudes held by nursing students can lead to ageism affecting the quality of care provided. The purpose of this scoping review is to summarize research findings in the published literature relating to factors associated with nursing students' attitudes toward older people, and the tools used to measure these attitudes. The Joanna Briggs Institute guide for conducting a scoping review was used. Eleven databases and search engines were searched for international peer reviewed research articles published in English between January 2000 and February 2021. Sixteen articles were included in the review. This review highlights areas for affirmative action to improve undergraduate nursing students' attitudes toward older people to prepare them to work effectively in future health care systems. Positive attitudes were associated with: senior years of study; professional values (caring, professionalism, trust); education regarding care of older adults; knowledge about aging; contact with older family members; comfort communicating with older people; and willingness to work with older people following graduation. It also identified the need for a current, nursing-specific measure of attitudes toward older people.

Virtual reality program to develop dementia-friendly communities in Japan

OBJECTIVES

Dementia-friendly communities promote community coherence and reduce the risk of ageism in the community. This study examined the effects of a Virtual Reality (VR) educational program on participants' attitudes towards dementia and their sense of community related to supporting community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

We delivered an educational program using a virtual reality platform that provided a first-person perspective of people with dementia in the courtyards of two convenience stores in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Japan. We investigated attitudes towards dementia and participants' sense of community before and after the educational program.

RESULTS

There were 42 study participants (average age = 48 years). The total scores of attitudes towards dementia and sense of community changed positively from pre- to postintervention (P = .004 and <.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This educational program for understanding dementia could enhance people's support of community members living with dementia.

Factors influencing self-management of depression in older adults: a qualitative study

Objectives: A considerable body of work addresses prevalence and treatment options for depression in older adults. However, less is known about their capacity to self-manage their depression. Effective self-management of depression has the potential to improve individuals' quality of life through information, empowerment and perceived control, while enabling more efficient health service utilisation. The aim of this paper was to identify the barriers and facilitators to self-management of depression in older adults.Method: A qualitative study comprising in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 32 older adults with a diagnosis of moderate depression.Results: Three over-arching themes captured the barriers and facilitators to participants' capacity to self-manage their depression. Perspectives on age and depression represented how views of older age and mental health influenced the approach to self-management. Ability to access the health care system concerned the ability to identify and engage with different services and support. Individual capacity for self-management reflected participants' views on and the resources required for effective self-management.Conclusion: This study offers a better understanding of the factors that positively or negatively influence older adults' ability to self-manage their depression. Strategies to improve self-management should address misconceptions about age and depression, and older adults' interest in and capacity to embrace self-management practices.

Discrimination and disability: Types of discrimination and association with trust, self-efficacy and life satisfaction among older Australians

OBJECTIVE

To examine the prevalence, context and types of discrimination reported by older Australians (aged 55 years and over) and associations between outcomes (trust, self-efficacy and life satisfaction) and exposure to discrimination.

METHODS

The 2014 General Social Survey was used to measure discrimination. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between levels of trust, self-efficacy and life satisfaction and exposure to discrimination.

RESULTS

A sizeable minority of older Australians with a disability reported discrimination (15%), with higher exposure for those with more severe or multiple disabilities. In addition to disability, age and nationality, race or ethnic group were cited as reasons for discrimination. Discrimination was reported across a variety of contexts, including everyday social interactions. Lower levels of trust, self-efficacy and life satisfaction were associated with exposure to disability discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS

Focusing on disability discrimination alone underestimates the level of exposure to discrimination. Discrimination may reinforce social exclusion by reducing trust and self-efficacy in familial and community contexts.

Confronting ageism: The potential of intergenerational contemporary art events to increase understandings of older adults and ageing

OBJECTIVE

To explore the impact of an innovative intergenerational art event showcasing retirement village life on attendees' understandings of older adults and ageing.

METHODS

A survey of 93 art event attendees was conducted immediately after 16 sessions of the event (78% response rate). Respondents reported on their event experience and its impact on their understandings of older adults and attitudes towards ageing. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) used to test for differences between age groups (18-34, 35-64 and 65+ years).

RESULTS

Over 90% of attendees reported the art event helped them develop an understanding of the lives of older people, with the greatest impact on young and middle-aged adults. The majority of young and middle-aged adults, however, expressed concern about their own ageing.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that intergenerational art events have the potential to increase understandings of older adults and their lives, but this may not translate into personalised comfort with ageing.

Understanding Australian medical student attitudes towards older people

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this article was to review the literature around Australian medical student attitudes towards older people.

METHODS

An Ovid cross-search and SCOPUS search were performed using keywords such as 'Attitude', 'Medical Student' and 'Aged or Older or Elderly'.

RESULTS

Several recent studies have investigated the attitudes of Australian medical students towards older people. Baseline attitudes at two medical schools were positive. Three studies quantified attitude improvement after curriculum intervention. All the studies used US-developed instruments, which have not been validated in Australia. Qualitative studies have described mixed attitudes towards older people: negative themes included nihilism, paternalism, communication issues, greater morbidity and reduced quality of life. Positively, students placed value on clinical decision-making and critical reflection during residential aged care placements.

CONCLUSION

Australian medical students' attitudes towards older people are mixed and not well understood based on quantitative measures developed for use in the US and on qualitative evidence. Future research in this area requires a reliable and locally-validated instrument.