EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF NURSES-TECHNICIANS IN WORKING WITH DEMENTIA PATIENTS IN NURSING HOMES

SAŽETAK Uvod: Demencija je kompleksan progresivni poremećaj kognicije koji se manifestira atipičnom i heterogenom kliničkom slikom, što predstavlja izazov u prepoznavanju i dijagnostici, a samim tim i u pružanju kvalitetne zdravstvene njege. Ciljevi: Cilj istraživanja je ispitati koliko znanja o demenciji imaju medicinske sestre i tehničari zaposleni u domovima za starije osobe, te ispitati razlike u razini znanja o demenciji i stavovima o osobama s demencijom s obzirom na duljinu radnog staža. Metode: Provedeno je istraživanje na principu presječne studije, anonimno i dobrovoljno, tijekom lipnja i srpnja 2022. godine. Anketni upitnik je kreiran u svrhu ovog istraživanja, a distribuiran je putem društvenih mreža. Ispitanici su isključivo medicinske sestre i tehničari zaposleni u domovima za starije osobe na području Republike Hrvatske, a u analizi podataka korišteno je 79 anketnih upitnika koji su ispunjeni prema kriterijima istraživanja. Rezultati: Prema rezultatima medicinske sestre i tehničari zaposleni u domovima za starije pokazuju visok stupanj znanja o demenciji (M=17,10, sd=1,66). Prema rezultatima nije dobivena statistički značajna razlika u znanju o demenciji i stavovima o osobama s demencijom kod medicinskih sestara i tehničara s obzirom na duljinu radnog staža. Zaključak: Pružanje zdravstvene skrbi za osobe s demencijom zahtjeva visoku razinu znanja o demenciji i pozitivne stavove prema osobama s demencijom, stoga je važno provoditi programe edukacije za medicinske sestre i tehničare koji sudjeluju u skrbi za osobe s demencijom. Povećanjem razine znanja i stavovi o osobama s demencijom biti će pozitivniji, jer razumijevanje demencije najvažnija je komponenta u cjelokupnom procesu zdravstvene skrbi za oboljele.SUMMARY Introduction: Dementia is a complex progressive disorder of cognition that is manifested by an atypical and heterogeneous clinical picture, which represents a challenge in recognition and diagnosis and therefore in the provision of a health care of good quality. Aims: The aim of the research is to examine how much knowledge nurses and technicians employed in homes for the elderly about dementia have and to examine differences in the level of knowledge about dementia and attitudes towards people with dementia with regard to length of service. Methods: The research was conducted on the principle of a cross-sectional study, anonymously and voluntarily during June and July 2022. The questionnaire was created for the purpose of this research and it was distributed via social networks. The respondents are exclusively nurses and technicians employed in homes for the elderly in the Republic of Croatia and 79 questionnaires were used in the data analysis, which were filled in according to the research criteria. Results: According to the results nurses and technicians employed in homes for the elderly show a high level of knowledge about dementia (M=17.10, sd=1.66). According to the results there was no statistically significant difference in knowledge about dementia and attitudes towards people with dementia among nurses and technicians in regard to length of service. Conclusion: Providing health care for people with dementia requires a high level of knowledge about dementia and positive attitudes towards people with dementia, therefore it is important to implement education programs for nurses and technicians who participate in the care of people with dementia. By increasing the level of knowledge attitudes about people with dementia will be more positive, because understanding dementia is the most important component in the entire process of health care for such patients