AUTHOR=Abera Workineh , Daba Alemneh Kabeta , Gebre Bereket Beyene , Ashagere Mathewos , Yeheyis Tomas , Addisu Dereje , Amlaku Tsegahun , Tadesse Fikru , Samuel Tinbete 

TITLE=Knowledge and attitude toward geriatric nursing care and associated factors among nurses working at hospitals in Hawassa City, Ethiopia, 2022

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1284845

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1284845

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Background: Globally, the fastest growth in the number of older people combined with chronic and age-related medical conditions experienced by the elderly placed great demand on geriatric care. Thus, nurses are required to be knowledgeable and have a desirable attitude towards geriatric nursing care. Therefore, this study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude towards geriatric nursing care and associated factors among nurses working at hospitals in Hawassa City, Ethiopia. Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 30 to July 30, 2022, among 365 nurses. The hospitals and study participants were selected by using purposive and simple random sampling methods respectively. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were computed to generate descriptive results. Binary and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify predictors at p-value <0.05. Results: About 39.2% of nurses had good knowledge and 49.3% of the nurses showed a positive attitude towards geriatric nursing care. Nurses with BSc degree or above [AOR 2.5, 95% CI, (1.2-5.6)], having lived with older people [AOR 2.2, 95% CI, (1.4-3.6)], nurses with 6-10 years [AOR, 2.8, 95% CI, (1.4-5.57)] and ˃ 10 years of work experience [AOR 4.2, 95% CI, (1.6-10.8)] were more likely to have knowledge about geriatric nursing care. Having BSc degree or above [AOR 2.7, 95% C.I, (1.2-6)], 6-10 years [AOR 3, 95% CI, (1.48-6.3)], and ˃10 years [AOR 3.9, 95% CI, (1.4-10.99)] of work experience, living experience with older people [AOR 1.7, 95% C.I:1.05-2.7], knowledge about geriatric care [AOR 3, 95% CI,(1.85-4.92)] , and having worked at adequate space [AOR 1.7, 95% CI: 1.009-2.8] increased odds of good attitude towards geriatric nursing care. Conclusions: Considerable proportions Less than half of nurses demonstrated poor good knowledge and negative positive attitude towards geriatric nursing care. Higher lLevel of education, higher work experience, living withliving with oelder people aged 60 years or above, and working in an adequate space were factors that positively significantly influenced