Nurses’ Attitude and Responsibilities Toward Elderly Care at a Tertiary Level Hospital in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Due to Bangladesh's rapidly ageing population, elderly care has become a priority issue. Nurses are key in providing quality care, but there's a knowledge gap about their attitudes and responsibilities. This study aimed to understand how nurses perceive their role in elderly care. Objective: The study assessed nurses' attitudes and responsibilities toward elderly care at a tertiary-level hospital in Bangladesh. Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted among senior staff nurses at Dhaka Medical College Hospital from July 2022 to June 2023. A sample size of 112 was selected using a convenience sampling technique. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire consisting of three parts: (1) Socio-demographic and Professional Characteristics Questionnaire; (2) Attitude towards Elderly Care Questionnaire; and (3) Professional Responsibility towards Elderly Care Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS software. Results: The majority of nurses (67.9%) had a positive attitude and 59.8% showed high professional responsibilities. Male nurses demonstrated higher professional responsibility than female nurses (p = .007). Nurses' attitudes and responsibilities towards elder care were influenced by their professional educational degree, marital status, working area, and working shift. A significant relationship was found between attitudes and responsibilities (r = 0.210, p = .026). Conclusion: Most nurses showed a positive attitude and high professional responsibility toward elderly care. However, a significant number of nurses had a neutral attitude and showed low to moderate professional responsibilities. This suggests a need for ongoing education and training for nurses on the importance of quality elderly care. The study also helps nursing managers to better select nurses for effective elderly care. Future studies should examine factors influencing nurses' attitudes and responsibilities, the effectiveness of education and training programs, and the perspectives of elderly patients and their families.