Attitude of Nurses on Care of Older Adults and Factors Influencing on It Among the Nurses Working at Teaching Hospital Jaffna

Background It important to give more emphasis on elderly care since population is ageing. Nurses play a vital role in caring the elderly. This study aimed to assess the attitude of nurses on caring the older adults and the factors influence it among the nurses who are working at the Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. Methods This hospital-based, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 216 nursing officers at Teaching Hospital Jaffna from May 2023 to August 2024. A pre-designed and validated self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. SPSS 25 software was used for data analysis. Descriptive analysis was used to assessed nurses' attitudes, and the Chi-Squared test was used identified the association of socio demographic factors and the attitude of nurses. Results A total of 232 nurses were recruited for the study, with a response rate of 93.1%. Participants' ages ranged from 25 to 57 years old. The majority were female (70.4%). Nearly half identified as Sri Lankan Tamil (52.8%) and Hindus (47.7%). Over half (63.9%) had less than five years of experience. More than three quarter were diploma holders (78.2%).Nurses with a positive attitude 90.3%, while those with a negative attitude account for 9.7%, based on a 50% cutoff value. The mean attitude score is 29.46. A statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05) was found between attitude and current ward/unit, and higher education qualifications. Conclusions This study demonstrated variations in nurses’ attitudes toward caring for older adults. The majority (90.3%) showed a positive attitude towards elderly care. Nurses may need frequent updates on caring for older adults; relevant wards and units should take appropriate measures to ensure nurses maintain a proper attitude toward this aspect of care.