Knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy of elderly caregivers in Chinese nursing homes: a cross-sectional study in Liaoning Province

The evaluation and enhancement strategies of core competencies for older adult caregivers in integrated medical and older adult care institutions

The study aimed to understand the main skills of older adult caregivers and find ways to improve these skills. We selected participants using a method called random cluster sampling, where caregivers from 17 different medical and nursing care facilities across seven districts in Hangzhou were chosen. We collected 492 valid questionnaires and conducted interviews with 150 people. To analyze the data, we used T-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to identify what factors affect caregivers' skills. We also performed multiple regression analysis to explore these factors in more depth. The analysis showed that age (p = 0.041), annual income (p < 0.001), and having a training certificate (p < 0.001) significantly influence the skills of older adult caregivers. Specifically, caregivers' age and whether they had a training certificate were linked to how competent they were, with income being a very strong factor. The study highlighted a gap between the caregivers' current skills and the skills needed for high-quality care. This gap shows the need for training programs that are specifically tailored to the caregivers' diverse needs and cultural backgrounds. Medical and eldercare facilities should adjust their work and educational programs accordingly. It's also important to look at how caregivers are paid to make sure their salary reflects their skills and the quality of care they provide. Finally, it's crucial to integrate a comprehensive training program that leads to certification within eldercare organizations.

Geriatric Nursing: Relationship Among Death Attitude, Meaning in Life, and Career Choice Motivation

BACKGROUND

Aging populations require higher quality care. However, few undergraduate nursing students choose careers in aged care. Negative death attitudes and loss of meaning in life may reduce motivation to choose geriatric nursing (GN) as a career. The relationships among these variables have yet to be clarified in the literature.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among death attitude, meaning in life, and motivation to choose a career in GN among undergraduate nursing students in China.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey. Five hundred ninety-five final-year undergraduate nursing students in four nursing schools completed the Career Choice Motivation Questionnaire for Geriatric Nursing, Death Attitude Profile-Revised, and Meaning in Life Questionnaire. A t test, analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regression model were used to analyze the data using SPSS Version 22.0.

RESULTS

The mean Career Choice Motivation Questionnaire for Geriatric Nursing item score was 3.15 ( SD = 0.49; 1-5 points), indicating the participants were moderately motivated to choose GN as a career. The multiple linear regression revealed statistically significant associations among death attitude, meaning in life, and motivation to care for older adults, explaining 14.5% of the total variance ( R2 = .15, F = 9.01, p < .001). Perceiving meaning in life, having escape acceptance, and having approach acceptance were each shown to be positively associated with choosing a career in GN. Conversely, fear of death and death avoidance were found to be negatively associated with choosing this career path.

CONCLUSIONS

Death attitude and perceptions regarding the meaning of life are associated with the motivation of nursing students to care for older adults.

Status and influencing factors of elder neglect by geriatric nursing assistants in Chinese nursing homes: a cross-sectional survey

Background

In nursing homes, elder neglect has come to the forefront. Currently, few studies have examined the impact of personal and organizational factors of geriatric nursing assistants on elder neglect. From the perspective of geriatric nursing assistants, this study aims to explore the current situation and influencing factors of elder neglect in Chinese nursing homes.

Methods

A convenience sampling method was used to recruit 412 geriatric nursing assistants from 50 nursing homes in China. Participants were surveyed using a demographic questionnaire, the Elder Neglect Scale for Geriatric Nursing Assistants, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and the Proactive Personality Scale (PPS). Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the factors influencing elder neglect.

Results

Geriatric nursing assistants scored a median of 74 out of 85 on the Elder Neglect Scale. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the main personal factors influencing geriatric nursing assistants' elder neglect were general self-efficacy (β = 0.312), proactive personality (β = 0.180), and advanced qualification (β = 0.084), while the main organizational factors included monthly salary ≤ 1,900 RMB (β = -0.256), no regular training after induction (β = -0.253), and the number of days off per month (3-4 days off β = 0.192, ≥ 5 days off β = 0.101).

Conclusion

Although geriatric nursing assistants are at low levels of elder neglect, it remains a cause for concern. Among the personal factors, geriatric nursing assistants who possessed proactive personalities, high self-efficacy and advanced qualifications, exhibited low levels of elder neglect. Among the organizational factors, those who possessed a high number of days off per month portrayed low levels of elder neglect. Conversely, those who received low monthly salaries and no regular training after induction portrayed high levels of elder neglect. To reduce the risk of elder neglect, nursing homes should give due consideration to candidates' self-efficacy and proactive personality traits when recruiting, and focus on fostering these personality traits in their employees during their work. In addition, strengthening regular training for geriatric nursing assistants, optimizing the salary structure, and arranging rest days in a reasonable manner are also necessary measures.

Empowerment and quality of life: the mediating role of self-efficacy and health literacy among spousal caregivers in China

The aim of this study was to explore the chain mediation model of self-efficacy and health literacy between empowerment and quality of life among spousal caregivers of disabled elderly based on 'Marriage Binding'. From December 2020 to June 2022, the cross-sectional study was conducted in hospitals and communities, in Guangdong, Fujian, Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi and Yunnan provinces, China. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographic data and four main variables, including empowerment, self-efficacy, health literacy and quality of life. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the four main research variables. Multiple Linear Regression and bootstrap analysis were used to analyze the direct and indirect effects among them. Any two variables of spousal caregivers were correlated among empowerment, self-efficacy, health literacy and quality of life. Self-efficacy and health literacy can separately and sequentially mediate the relationship between empowerment and quality of life. To improve the quality of life of spousal caregivers of disabled elderly, the mediating role of self-efficacy, the mediating role of health literacy and the chain mediating role of self-efficacy and health literacy should take effect. In the future, some intervention studies should be taken to enhance the effects of those variables that may be beneficial for improving quality of life of spousal caregivers of disabled elderly.

Factors affecting care of elderly patients among nursing staff at the Ho teaching hospital in Ghana: Implications for geriatric care policy in Ghana

Introduction

The population of the aged is increasing globally and in Ghana. In 2020, the population aged over 60 years in Ghana was 2,051,903 and this is expected to reach 2.5 million by 2025 and 6.3 million by 2050. Despite the envisaged increase in the number and life expectancy of the older population in Ghana that will require nursing care, there is a paucity of data on nursing staff knowledge and attitudes toward elderly patients in Ghana.

Objectives

This study, therefore, assessed factors affecting the care of elderly patients among nursing staff in a tertiary referral health facility in the Volta region of Ghana.

Methods

The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design using quantitative data collection approaches. A total of 150 nurses were sampled with a response rate of 95%. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The analysis included logistic regression to predict factors associated with nurses’ knowledge and attitude in caring for elderly patients, after multicollinearity diagnosis and controlling the effect of confounding variables.

Results

Majority (83.8%) of the nurses demonstrated good knowledge of the aging process, knowledge in the care of the elderly (88.7%), and (84.5%) had a positive caring attitude towards the elderly. Professional education, professional qualification, and knowledge on aged care were significantly associated with nurses’ attitude towards the elderly (p<0.001), (p<0.005), and (p<0.010), respectively. Lack of special wards/facilities emerged as the predominantly perceived barrier to caring for the elderly as per the nurses’ responses.

Conclusion

The majority of nurses demonstrated good knowledge and attitude in the aging process and care of the aged. Lack of special wards/facilities and lack of staff motivation were the leading perceived barriers to rendering care to the elderly. Scaling up gerontological nursing programs and establishing special aged care facilities in Ghana with appropriate policy guidelines and regulations for implementation of care will help improve nurses’ knowledge and caring attitudes toward the care of elderly patients. Likewise, a national geriatric care policy would help consolidate standard geriatric care in Ghana.

Transition from Nurses to Medicalized Elderly Caregivers: Comparison on Willingness between Traditional and Modern Regions in China

As China is transitioning to an aging society, the Chinese government has proposed an eldercare pattern, called medicalized elderly care, to help solve the rapid aging and health care problems together. However, the shortage of elderly caregivers is a critical issue, with deficiency both in quantity and quality. This study aims to survey nurses' willingness to transition into medicalized elderly caregivers and compare it between modern and traditional regions. Nurses working in Guangdong (modern region) and Jilin (traditional region) were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire in October 2021. We analyzed the influencing factors through χ²-test, t-test a and binary logistic regression model and further explored the influence of region using propensity score matching (PSM). A total of 1227 nurses were included, with 726 (59.2%) of them showing willingness to transition. Nurses from traditional regions showed a significantly higher willingness to transition after PSM (p = 0.027). Other factors influencing nurses' willingness were age, education, lived with older adults, participated in voluntary activities related to older adults, visited eldercare institutions, attitudes toward older adults, knowledge about older adults, hospice care attitudes and death attitudes. The willingness of nurses to transition was not high enough. To have more willing and skillful human resources for eldercare, we need a more "intimate society for older adults" in the first place.

Prevalence and related factors of depression and anxiety in a cohort of Chinese elderly caregivers in the nursing home

BACKGROUND

The heavy care burden, the long-term dependence of the disabled elderly, and the changing social roles can put elderly caregivers at high risk for mental disorders. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and related factors of depression and anxiety among elderly caregivers and examine the role of resilience in depression and anxiety.

METHODS

A multicentre cross-sectional survey was designed. A total of 953 elderly caregivers in nursing homes were recruited in three provinces in China using convenience sampling. Depression and anxiety were measured by self-rating depression scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the key factors associated with depression and anxiety.

RESULTS

The median SDS score was 40 (interquartile interval 34-48), and the median SAS score was 48 (interquartile interval 38-56). In this cohort, 19.4% reported depression and 44.0% anxiety. Working hours, sensitive personality and health status were related factors for depression symptom. In terms of anxiety symptoms, its related factors included working hours, health status and higher monthly income. Furthermore, resilience was associated with depression and anxiety among caregivers.

LIMITATIONS

A selection bias may be caused by convenience sampling and voluntary participation.

CONCLUSION

Depression and anxiety symptoms were common in the cohort of Chinese elderly caregivers in the nursing home. The factors explored in this study may contribute to the development of individualized interventions for depression and anxiety symptoms.

Perception of Old Age by the Inhabitants of Poland

Introduction: People's self-esteem and public perception of senior citizens both play important roles in perceiving old age. The public perception manifests itself in adopting specific attitudes toward the elderly. Aim of the work: The work aimed at attempting to specify how adults and the elderly perceive old age. Material and method: The diagnostic poll method was employed as the main research tool, whereas the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire by Morris Rosenberg and the Kogan's Attitudes toward Old People Scale, as well as authors' own sociodemographic variables metrics, were used as research tools. The investigation was administered in a cohort of 206 people living in Poland. Results: The average number of points on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire by Morris Rosenberg (SES) was 29.01 (SD = 4.24). People over the age of 60 (M = 30.07 points), males (M = 32.05 points), those in a relationship (M = 30.22 points), declaring higher education (M = 30.33 points), and a good material situation (M = 30.12 points) enjoyed higher self-esteem. The average number of points on the Kogan's Attitudes toward Old People Scale (KAOP) in the research cohort was 126.48. The assessment of the elderly was higher among those below 60 (M = 127.06), females (M = 127.29), those in a relationship (M = 129.78), those declaring higher education (M = 128.56), and those in a good material situation (M = 126.99). Conclusions: Respondents perceived old age positively, albeit at a low level. It is necessary to review activities undertaken in the sphere of social policy in Poland because activities undertaken to date are failing to improve old age perception. Actions need to be undertaken aiming at raising self-esteem level in Polish senior citizens, and available financial, social, and psychological resources from the government and community associations should all be used to this end.