Effects of Gerontological Nursing Practicum on Attitudes toward Elders with Dementia and General Elders among Korean Nursing Students.
10.4040/jkan.2006.36.4.645
- Author:
Jung Hee KIM
1
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Inha University, Korea. junghee@inha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Comparative Study ; Evaluation Studies ; Multicenter Study ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Attitude;
Aged;
Dementia;
Nursing students;
Nursing education
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Analysis of Variance;
*Attitude of Health Personnel;
Day Care;
Dementia/*nursing;
*Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate;
Female;
Geriatric Nursing/*education;
Humans;
Korea;
Male;
Stroke/*nursing;
Students, Nursing
- From:
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
2006;36(4):645-651
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study investigated changes in attitudes toward elders in general and elders with dementia after students finished a gerontological nursing practicum. METHODS: Questionnaires developed for Asian cultures were administered pre practicum, immediately post practicum, and at 8-months follow up to 31 senior students in a baccalaureate nursing program. The 1-week practicum occurred at two adult day care centers: a center for elders with dementia and a center for elders with stroke. Repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni correction procedures were used to analyze data. RESULTS: Students' evaluation of elder vitality and flexibility increased significantly at post practicum, however this increase was not sustained at follow up. Score of generosity of elders, the only positively evaluated dimension for elders in general, improved partly at post practicum. Students evaluated flexibility and generosity of elders with dementia more negatively than general elders. All of the decreased attitudes at follow up were not significantly different from those at pre practicum. CONCLUSIONS: Students had more negative attitudes toward elders with dementia. Attitudes of students in direct contact with elders with dementia were improved through the practicum regarding generosity and flexibility. However the sustainability of the immediate effect was not observed at follow up.