Knowledge, attitude, practice, and associated factors towards older adults’ care among nurses in a selected hospital in the North-Central Province of Sri Lanka

Introduction: The global ageing population presents unique challenges for healthcare systems, particularly in Sri Lanka, where the proportion of older adults is projected to reach 25% by 2041. Nurses play a crucial role in imparting essential knowledge, fostering positive attitudes, and promoting effective practices in caring for older adults. This study aimed to assess the nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding older adults, as well as their associated factors in a selected hospital in Sri Lanka.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 125 nurses working at surgical and medical wards at Polonnaruwa Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires including the Knowledge of Older Patients Quiz (KOP-Q), modified Kogan's Attitude Scale, and a pre-tested researcher-developed practice questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha- 0.747). Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (significance at P<0.05) in SPSS Version 25.

Results: The majority of participants were female (91.2%, n=114), aged 20–30 years (53.6%, n=67), held a diploma in nursing (68.8%, n=86), and had less than 10 years of experience (73.6%, n=92). Only 9.6% (n=12) had specialised training in the care of older adults. Most (90.4%, n=113) had moderate knowledge (mean 18.02±2.57, range 0-30, (good (≥21), moderate (15–20), and poor (<15)), 94.4% (n=118) had positive attitudes (mean 92.91±7.94, range 26-156), and 76.8% (n=96) had good practices (mean 16.24±1.80). Significant factors for knowledge included age (p=0.003), gender (p=0.009), education (p=0.019), and experience (p=0.006). Attitudes were influenced by age (p=0.001), experience (p<0.000), training (p=0.045), and having older adults at home (p=0.020). Practices were associated with marital status (p=0.007), education level (p=0.001), training (p=0.045) and having an older adult at home (p=0.020). Knowledge and practice showed a weak positive correlation (r=0.271, p=0.002).

Conclusions: While nurses demonstrated moderate knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices in the care of older adults, specialised training remains limited. Key factors influencing knowledge, attitudes, and practices include age, education, experience, and the presence of older adults at home. Strengthening geriatric training programs can enhance nursing competence and improve care for older adults.