Comparisons of Knowledge of Dutch Nursing Students and Hospital Nurses on Aging

Knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older people and willingness to engage in geriatric rehabilitation among rehabilitation students in southwestern China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

As the global elderly population rises, providing quality care for older adults is increasingly challenging. Rehabilitation technicians are crucial in this effort. Their knowledge and attitudes significantly impact care quality and their willingness to work with the elderly. While many studies have examined healthcare professionals' attitudes toward older adults, few focus on rehabilitation students. This study assesses Chinese rehabilitation students' knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older individuals, willingness to care for them, and the factors influencing these aspects.

METHODS

A sample of 890 rehabilitation students from three colleges and universities in southwestern China was investigated with a self-administered questionnaire, which included socio-demographic information, the Palmore Facts on Aging Quiz, the Kogan's Attitude towards Older People Scale and the Chinese Version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics were used to illustrate the demographic characteristics of the respondents. The frequency and percentage of responses was calculated. Means and standard deviations were computed for general knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older people, and empathy. Independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA assessed differences in FAQ, KAOP, and IRI-C scores between groups. Pearson's correlation examined correlations among general knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older people and empathy ability. Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests compared willingness to engage in geriatric rehabilitation across different respondent characteristics. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis explored the independent effect of different variables on attitudes toward older people.

RESULTS

The Chinese rehabilitation students from three colleges and universities in southwestern China displayed a relatively low level of knowledge about aging, but a generally positive attitude towards older people. Females had significantly more positive attitudes toward older people than males(p<0.01). The students who had previous experience of being cared for by (maternal) grandparents, living with the elderly, and taking care of the elderly showed significantly more positive attitudes toward older people (p = 0.001, 0.007 and 0.007, respectively) and a significantly stronger willingness to engage in geriatric rehabilitation(p = 0.013, <0.01 and <0.01, respectively) than those who had not had these experiences. Students with good relationships with older people had more positive attitudes toward the elderly (p < 0.01) and greater willingness to engage in geriatric rehabilitation (p < 0.01). Those with frequent contact with the elderly also showed more positive attitudes (p < 0.01) and a stronger willingness to engage in geriatric rehabilitation (p = 0.002) compared to those with less contact. Knowledge of aging and empathy ability were both significantly positively related to attitudes toward older people and both independent predictors of attitudes toward older people(r = 0.143, p<0.01 and r = 0.337, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

It is crucial to prepare rehabilitation students with adequate knowledge and positive attitudes to ensure the quality of rehabilitation and care provided to older people. Educators should adopt effective strategies to promote rehabilitation students' geriatric rehabilitation knowledge and increase their positive attitudes toward older people.

The effectiveness of serious games on undergraduate nursing students' knowledge and skills: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To determine the effect of serious games on undergraduate nursing students by the meta-analysis method.

BACKGROUND

There is a need for greater focus on enhancing the knowledge and skills of undergraduate nursing students. Generation Z students desire active engagement in the learning process. When compare with conventional learning approaches, serious games can enhance pupil interest by making the learning process more captivating.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHOD

A total of nine databases were systematically searched from inception to April 2024. The Cochrane RoB-2 tool and the Joanna Brigg's Institute Critical Appraisal Tool for quasi-experimental designs were used to undertake quality appraisal. A narrative synthesis, a meta-analysis and subgroup analysis were conducted to analyze the study outcomes.

RESULTS

In the study, 19 experimental studies included 14 randomized controlled trials and five quasi-experimental studies. When compare with control groups, serious games in RCTs showed significant improvements in knowledge (SMD 1.24, 95 % CI 0.52-1.96; P<0.001) and skills (SMD 0.50, 95 % CI 0.13-0.87; P<0.01). Subgroup analysis for technical skills outcomes demonstrated that serious games in RCTs were more effective than control groups (SMD 0.62, 95 % CI 0.20-1.05; P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Serious games had a beneficial impact on the knowledge and skills of undergraduate nursing students. In the context of serious game intervention, it is imperative to carefully consider the approach.

Evidence-based geriatric knowledge among healthcare providers in Vietnam: adaptation, validation, and pilot of the knowledge about older patients quiz

BACKGROUND

Vietnam's aging population is growing rapidly, but its health workforce's capacity to provide quality geriatric care is not clearly understood. We aimed to provide a cross-culturally relevant and validated instrument to assess evidence-based geriatric knowledge among healthcare providers in Vietnam.

METHODS

We translated the Knowledge about Older Patients Quiz from English to Vietnamese using cross-cultural adaptation methods. We validated the translated version by evaluating its relevance to the Vietnamese context, as well as its semantic and technical equivalence. We fielded the translated instrument on a pilot sample of healthcare providers in Hanoi, Vietnam.

RESULTS

The Vietnamese Knowledge about Older Patients Quiz (VKOP-Q) had excellent content validity (S-CVI/Ave) and translation equivalence (TS-CVI/Ave) of 0.94 and 0.92, respectively. The average VKOP-Q score was 54.2% (95% CI: 52.5-55.8) and ranged from 33.3 to 73.3% among 110 healthcare providers in the pilot study. Healthcare providers in the pilot study had low scores on questions related to the physiopathology of geriatric conditions, communication techniques with sensory impaired older adults, and differentiating age related changes from abnormal changes or symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The VKOP-Q is a validated instrument to assess geriatric knowledge among healthcare providers in Vietnam. The level of geriatric knowledge among healthcare providers in the pilot study was unsatisfactory, which supports the need for further assessment of geriatric knowledge among a nationally representative sample of healthcare providers.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Associated Factors Towards Care of Elderly Patients among Nurses

Background

Ethiopia's elderly care service is relatively young and little is known about the practices or readiness of nurses to provide care. Nurses need to have good knowledge, a positive attitude, and experience when it comes to caring for the elderly or patients who are chronically providing quality care. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards care for elderly patients and associated factors among nurses working in adult care units of public hospitals in Harar, 2021.

Methods

An institutional-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from February 12 to July 10, 2021. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 478 study participants. Data were collected by trained data collectors using a pretested self-administered questionnaire. From the pretest, Cronbach's alpha for all items was above 0.7 for all items. Data were entered into Epi Data v.4.6 and exported to the Statistical Package for Social Science Version 26 for binary logistic regression analysis. A P-value of 0.05 was used to declare a significant association between variables.

Results

The study revealed that 311 (69%) had inadequate knowledge. Having a first degree and an unfavorable attitude towards nurses showed a statistically significant association with nurses' inadequate knowledge. A total of 275 (61.0%) nurses were found to have an unfavorable attitude and were significantly associated with having a diploma and first degree, learning in a private organization, 6 to 10 years of experience, lack of training, and inadequate knowledge of nurses. A total of 297 (65.9%) study units had inadequate practice towards the care of elderly patients. Nurses' practices showed a significant association with the type of hospital, work experience, and adherence to guidelines with a response rate of 94.4%.

Conclusion

The majority of nurses had inadequate knowledge, an unfavorable attitude, and inadequate practice towards the care of elderly patients. Having a first-degree and an unfavorable attitude with inadequate knowledge, lack of training and inadequate knowledge, unfavorable attitudes and less than 11 years of experience, working in non-academic hospitals, and unavailability of guidelines with inadequate practices were significantly associated.

The barriers and facilitators of developing clinical competence among master's graduates of gerontological nursing: a qualitative descriptive study

BACKGROUND

Clinical competence development is a main goal of specialized nursing courses. Nonetheless, some master's graduates of gerontological nursing programs have inadequate Clinical competence. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers and the facilitators to clinical competence development among the master's graduates of gerontological nursing.

METHOD

This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in 2020. Participants were twenty nursing master's students, master's graduates, and instructors of gerontological nursing. They were purposively selected from several faculties of nursing and midwifery in Tehran, Isfahan, and Kashan, Iran. Semi-structured interviews were held for data collection and the conventional content analysis proposed by Graneheim and Lundman was used for data analysis. Data were managed using the MAXQDA 10 software.

RESULTS

The main barriers to clinical competence development were students' neglectfulness towards learning, inefficiency of educational system, and ineffective management. The main facilitators to clinical competence development were effective educational planning and management improvement.

CONCLUSION

There are different personal, educational, and managerial barriers and facilitators to clinical competence development among master's graduates of gerontological nursing. Effective educational planning and management improvement are needed for clinical competence development among master's students and graduates of gerontological nursing.

Hospital nurses' knowledge about older patients in Turkey: a validation and comparison study

BACKGROUND

In Turkey, nursing care in hospitals has gradually included more older patients, resulting in a need for knowledgeable geriatric nurses. It is unknown, however, whether the nursing workforce is ready for this increase. Therefore, the aim of this study is to validate the Knowledge about Older Patients Quiz (KOPQ) in the Turkish language and culture, to describe Turkish hospital nurses' knowledge about older patients, and to compare levels of knowledge between Turkish and Dutch hospital nurses.

METHOD

First, the KOPQ was translated, resulting in the KOPQ-TR. Then, content validity was assessed by 10 geriatric experts using the Lynn method, a pilot test among 10 nurses was conducted, and a Rasch analysis was performed using data from 135 nurses working in two Turkish hospitals. Finally, a comparison between Turkish and Dutch nurses' levels of knowledge was performed.

RESULTS

The results of the qualitative validation (i.e., content validity by experts and nurses), model fit, item reliability and the item separation index of the KOPQ-TR proved excellent, indicating good content and construct validity. However, the Person Separation Index and Person Reliability of the Rash analysis did not meet the criteria for adequate scale and psychometric validation. The levels of knowledge among Turkish nurses were significantly lower than those of Dutch nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

The KOPQ-TR is promising for use in Turkey, although psychometric validation should be repeated using a better targeted sample with a larger ability variance to adequately assess the Person Separation Index and Person Reliability. Currently, education regarding care for older patients is not sufficiently represented in Turkish nursing curricula. However, the need to do so is evident, as the results demonstrate that knowledge deficits and an increase in older patients admitted to the hospital will eventually occur. International comparison and cooperation provides an opportunity to learn from other countries that currently face the challenge of an aging (hospital) population.

Hospital nurses' knowledge regarding older patients: a multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Nursing care in hospitals increasingly involves older adults. A nursing workforce able to care for the ageing population is therefore critical for ensuring quality older adult care. Gaining insight in the knowledge and attitudes of nurses regarding older patients in the Netherlands is needed to develop and increase the impact of education- and quality improvement programs which can positively influence nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding older patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional multicenter study was performed. Data was collected in ten tertiary medical teaching hospitals well spread across the Netherlands (89 wards, 2902 nurses). Knowledge levels were measured using the Knowledge about Older Patient-Quiz (KOP-Q), consisting of 30 true-false questions. Knowledge levels of registered nurses are compared with knowledge levels known from literature of first year nursing students; last year nursing students; nurses; and nurse specialist. Potential associated factors considered were: age; sex; education; experience; opinions and preferences. Opinion and preferences regarding working with older patients were measured by three questions: 1) which patient group nurses preferred to work with; 2) how nurses feel about the increase of older patients in the hospital; and 3) whether nurses find it difficult to care for older patients.

RESULTS

From all wards, a representative sample of 1743 registered hospital nurses working on all 89 wards participated. On all wards, a large range in knowledge levels is observed between nurses, with 37% of nurses presenting knowledge levels comparable with nursing student and 31% of nurses presenting knowledge levels comparable with nurse specialists. Knowledge is related to age (p < .001), work experiences (p < .001), preparatory secondary education (p < .001) and nurses education level (p = .012). A minority (12.5%) prefers working with older patients and most nurses do not find it difficult.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that there is a large diversity in knowledge levels of Dutch hospital nurses in every hospital, on every ward. A majority of nurses demonstrate negative opinions and preferences. This implies that older patients admitted can receive different levels of quality of care on the same day as nurses with different knowledge levels provide care during the various shifts. Findings demonstrate an urgent need for education programs with themes regarding essential care for older patients in the Netherlands.

Minimizing the knowledge-to-action gap; identification of interventions to change nurses' behavior regarding fall prevention, a mixed method study

Background

The need for effective continuing education is especially high in in-hospital geriatric care, as older patients have a higher risk of complications, such as falls. It is important that nurses are able to prevent them. However, it remains unknown which interventions change the behavior of nurses. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify intervention options to change the behavior of hospital nurses regarding fall prevention among older hospitalized patients.

Methods

This study used a mixed method design. The Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) was used to identify intervention functions and policy categories to change the behavior of nurses regarding fall prevention. This study followed the eight steps of the BCW and two methods of data collection were used: five focus groups and three Delphi rounds. The focus groups were held with hospital nurses (n=26). Geriatric experts (n=11), managers (n=13) and educators (n=13) were included in the Delphi rounds. All data were collected within ten tertiary teaching hospitals in the Netherlands. All participants were included based on predefined in- and exclusion criteria and availability.

Results

In Geriatric experts opinions interventions targeting behavior change of nurses regarding fall prevention should aim at after-care, estimating fall risk and providing information. However, in nurses opinions it should target; providing information, fall prevention and multifactorial fall risk assessment. Nurses experience a diversity of limitations relating to capability, opportunity and motivation to prevent fall incidents among older patients. Based on these limitations educational experts identified three intervention functions: Incentivisation, modelling and enablement. Managers selected the following policy categories; communication/marketing, regulation and environmental/social planning.

Conclusions

The results of this study show there is a discrepancy in opinions of nurses, geriatric experts, managers and educators. Further insight in the role and collaboration of managers, educators and nurses is necessary for the development of education programs strengthening change at the workplace that enable excellence in nursing practice.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-021-00598-z.

Exploring the effect of professional experience on knowledge towards geriatric care among nurses working in adult care units

BACKGROUND

The elder population suffered from social, economic, and health (which includes physical) related problems. Thus, these problems are complex and interrelated, thereby requiring specific knowledge and expertise to meet them. However, there were limited researches previously done to explore nurse's knowledge towards geriatric care. Therefore, this study aimed to assess knowledge towards geriatric care and to examine its predictors in North east Ethiopia. The findings will be helpful to develop strategies that would promote nurses' knowledge, which in turn improves the quality of patient care and consequently, the health of older people.

METHODS

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 8 to 28, 2020, among 335 nurses. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select study participants. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge of nurses towards older adult care. A multivariable logistic regression model was applied to identify significant predictors and P-value< 0.05 was used to declare the significance of association.

RESULTS

In the study, a total of 335 nurses participated. About 192(57.3%) of them had poor knowledge towards older adult care. Thus, level of education (AOR = 1.9, 95%CI: 1.1-3.2), year of experience 1-5 year (AOR = 2.7, 95%CI: 1.5-4.9), 5-10 years (AOR = 2.5, 95%CI: 1.4-4.4), and previously living with older adult at home (AOR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.05-2.7) were significant predictors of knowledge on older adult care.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed; most of nurses had poor knowledge of the care of elder patients. Level of education, level of experience, and lived with the older adult were factors that contributed for poor knowledge. Thus, professional organizations should focus on changing nursing curricula and providing professional development workshops to improve the knowledge of nurses on geriatric care.

Effectiveness of virtual reality training in improving knowledge among nursing students: A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) training in improving knowledge among nursing students and (2) identify the essential features of training.

DESIGN

This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

DATA SOURCES

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were obtained from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, ProQuest and Scopus databases from inception up until 15 October 2019.

REVIEW METHODS

Meta-analysis and random-effects meta-regression was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-analysis 3.0 software. The overall effect was measured using Hedges' g and determined using Z-statistics at the significance level of p < 0.05. Heterogeneity was assessed using χ² and I² statistics. The risk of bias tool and the Grading of the Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system were employed to assess individual and overall quality of evidence, respectively.

RESULTS

Among the 1993 records identified, 14 trials were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge, with a small-to-medium effect (g = 0.47) in the VR group compared to the control group (Z = 2.66, p = 0.01). Subgroup analyses highlighted that VR training was more efficacious in delivering procedural knowledge to undergraduate nursing students when conducted in multiple, self-guided, short sessions within 30 min and by using low-moderate level of immersion. Meta-regression did not detect significant covariates that influenced knowledge scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Virtual reality may be a viable teaching strategy to improve knowledge acquisition, but it is presently suitable for supplementing conventional teaching methods. Nonetheless, VR could complement current pedagogy to address challenges associated with decreased clinical placement opportunities. Larger, well-designed RCTs are required to strengthen the evidence about the effectiveness of VR training.

Video-based tools to enhance nurses' geriatric knowledge: A development and pilot study

BACKGROUND

The need for health care professionals with geriatric knowledge is expected to increase due to aging of society. Educational tools that fit the specific learning styles of nurses and nursing students might be useful for this. Serioussoap.nl (available in Dutch and English) is an educational tool that integrates video-based gaming and storytelling, and it might be an effective way to improve the geriatric knowledge of nurses or nursing students.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of Serioussoap.nl on the geriatric knowledge of nurses and nursing students, and to evaluate its usability.

DESIGN

We conducted a development and an explorative pilot study, using a pretest posttest quantitative design to investigate the effect of Serioussoap.nl on geriatric knowledge. A qualitative approach was used to evaluate its usability.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Three vocational nursing schools (n = 119 second/third year students), one baccalaureate nursing university (n = 77 first year vocational nurses) and one home-care organization (n = 44 vocational nurses) in the Netherlands participated in the quantitative study, and 94 vocational students participated in the qualitative study.

METHODS

We measured the effect on geriatric knowledge with the Knowledge of Older People Questionnaire (KOP-Q, score 0-30). The qualitative study included observations of 94 participants while they played Serioussoap.nl, four semi-structured focus groups and eleven individual interviews.

RESULTS

The study demonstrated a significant increase of geriatric knowledge of 7.8% (+2.3 score on the KOP-Q, 95% Confidence Interval (1.4-3.2, p < 0.001). The qualitative data showed that Serioussoap.nl contributed to the reflective learning-style and enhanced meaningful learning.

CONCLUSION

Serioussoap.nl increased the students' geriatric knowledge and was perceived as a suitable and effective educational tool for vocational nursing students and nurses.