Cultural- and Educational-Level Differences in Students Knowledge, Attitudes, and Preferences for Working With Older Adults

Abstract

While knowledge of old age among students increased, preferences for future career in geriatrics declined with education. Ethnicity was a strong predictor of attitudes and future intentions to work with older adults. Culturally tailored educational programs focused on changing the attitudes toward aging are critically needed.

Student nurses' motivation to choose gerontological nursing as a career in China: A survey study

“…On the contrary, ageist attitudes and prejudices against older adults were barriers preventing students from choosing gerontological nursing (Shen and Xiao, 2012; Xiao et al, 2013). Thus, Zisberg et al suggested that educational programs focusing on changing attitudes toward aging are critically needed (Zisberg et al, 2015). Anxiety about aging was found to have a negative impact on the expectancy and value aspects of student nurses' MGNC in our study.…”

Nursing curriculums may hinder a career in gerontological nursing: An integrative review

“…Students that had just begun their undergraduate studies were generally open to gerontological nursing (Brown, Nolan, Davies, Nolan, & Keady, ; Carlson & Idvall, ; Henderson, Xiao, Siegloff, Kelton, & Paterson, ; Stevens, ; Zisberg, Topaz, & Band‐Wintershtein, ); however, they did not intend to have a career in gerontology (Henderson et al., ). Similarly, nursing students’ willingness to work in gerontological nursing declined as the students progressed along in their academic studies (Carlson & Idvall, ; Henderson et al., ; Stevens, ; Zisberg et al., ). On the contrary, other studies indicated that senior nursing students had a more positive attitude towards gerontological nursing than their junior counterparts (Kloster, Høie, & Skår, ).…”

A systematic review of psychometric testing of instruments that measure intention to work with older people

“…Six studies adopted a self-developed single 'yes' or 'no' close-ended question to survey the student nurses' preferences or intention to work with older people (Karlin et al 2006, Hweidi & Al-Obeisat 2006, Bernardini Zambrini et al 2008, Erdemir et al 2011, Henry & Ozier 2011, Carlson & Idvall 2015. Seven studies adopted a single question with Likert scale (Lee et al 2006, Lamet et al 2011, Goncalves et al 2011, Gould et al 2012, Eshbaugh et al 2013, Ayo glu et al 2014, Zisberg et al 2015. A study from Israel (Haron et al 2013) employed a single multiple choice question.…”

“…Extant literature reveals that student nurses hold positive attitudes towards older people both in western (Williams et al 2006, Karlin et al 2006, Henderson et al 2008, Holroyd et al 2009, Lambrinou et al 2009, Deltsidou et al 2010) and eastern countries (Celik et al 2010, Usta et al 2012, Erdemir et al 2011, Soad Hassan 2013, Runkawatt et al 2013, Xiao et al 2013 Ozer & Terkes ß 2014, Ayo glu et al 2014); however, working with older people has consistently remained among the least desired career choices of student nurses in most countries (Bleijenberg et al 2012, King et al 2013, Haron et al 2013, Eshbaugh et al 2013, Gillespie 2013, Xiao et al 2013, Rathnayake et al 2015, Ben Natan et al 2015, Carlson & Idvall 2015, Zisberg et al 2015.…”

“…The quality of healthcare services given to the older population is strongly influenced by healthcare providers' attitudes towards older people (Bernardini Zambrini et al 2008, Lagac e et al 2012. Attitude towards older people is the most significant predictor for intention to work with older people (Bernardini Zambrini et al 2008, Alsenany 2010, Goncalves et al 2011, Shen & Xiao 2012, Zisberg et al 2015, Ben Natan et al 2015. On that account, it is very important to nurture student nurses with positive attitudes towards older people and further promote intention to work with the older population.…”