Effects of Knowledge about the Elderly and Ethical Awareness on Elderly Care Attitudes among Nursing Assistants in Comprehensive Nursing Care Service Wards
10.22650/JKCNR.2026.32.1.1
- Author:
Ji Eon LEE
1
;
Duk Yoo JUNG
Author Information
1. College of Nursing, Ewha Womans University
- From:
Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
2026;32(1):1-11
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:This study aimed to identify the effects of knowledge about the elderly and ethical awareness on elderly care attitudes among nursing assistants working in comprehensive nursing care service wards.
Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used with 121 nursing assistants working in comprehensive nursing care service wards. recruited through an online nursing assistant community and direct visits to hospitals operating such wards. Data were collected from March 30 to May 2, 2025 using a self-administered online questionnaire including the knowledge about the elderly, ethical awareness and elderly care attitudes scales.Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis.
Results:The mean scores were 9.60±1.55 points for knowledge about the elderly, 3.85±0.45 points for ethical awareness, and 4.63±0.38 points for elderly care attitudes. Knowledge about the elderly and ethical awareness showed positive correlations with elderly care attitudes (r=.26, p=.004; r=.70, p<.001, respectively). In hierarchical regression analysis, ethical awareness (β=.66, p<.001) was significantly associated with elderly care attitudes, explaining 50.0% of the variance, while knowledge about the elderly did not show a significant association (β=.06, p=.416).
Conclusion:The findings indicate that ethical awareness is a significant predictor of elderly care attitudes among nursing assistants. Systematic ethical education programs and structured mentoring for novice nursing assistants are essential for improving the quality of elderly care in comprehensive nursing care service wards.
