Polish Journal of Public Health

Original Article, Pol J Public Health 2019;129(3): 95-98

Zdzisława Szadowska-Szlachetka¹, Aneta Małgorzata Drążek², Katarzyna Piasecka³,
Bartłomiej Drop⁴, Anna Irzmańska-Hudziak¹, Andrzej Stanisławek¹, Bożena Muraczyńska⁵

¹ Department of Oncology, Chair of Oncology and Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Poland

² Graduate of Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Poland

³ Department of Family Medicine and Environmental Nursing, Chair of Oncology and Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Poland

⁴ Department of Medical Informatics and Statistics with E-learning Lab, Medical University of Lublin, Poland

⁵ Chair and Department of Surgery and Surgical Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, Poland

10.2478/pjph-2019-0022

© 2019 Medical University of Lublin. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonComercial-No Derivs licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/)

Abstract

Introduction. Geriatric age is a natural stage of human ontogenesis, which is usually characterized by a decrease in overall efficiency, increased degradation of mental and physical functions.

Aim. Assessment of attitudes of students of nursing major towards people of geriatric age.

Material and methods. The study covered 202 students of nursing major; a diagnostic survey using own survey questionnaire.

Results. Students declared that they were treating elder people with respect and kindness, they pointed to a positive image of the elderly person, however associated the phenomenon of ageing with disability and diseases. Unfortunately, almost half of the respondents would not like to work with elderly people in the future. Most of the respondents declare helping elderly people – these were younger people as well as people living with seniors. Nearly half of the respondents would not allow their loved ones to be taken to a special facility even if they had a severe illness and most often it related to people who have elderly people in their surroundings.

Conclusions. The majority of respondents shows positive attitudes towards people of geriatric age and points to their positive image, while the majority of respondents associates old age in a negative way. Nearly half of the respondents would not like to work with elderly people in the future. Nearly half of the respondents would not allow a loved person to be taken to a special facility even if they had a severe illness and a significant proportion of respondents help elderly people.

Keywords: old age, geriatric patient, attitude.