Attitudes of healthcare professionals toward elderly patients

Uvod: Posljednja dva stoljeća svjedočimo neviđenom porastu životnog vijeka ljudi. Starenje je biološki proces koji doživljavaju svi organizmi, uključujući i ljudska bića. Starost nije bolest već je prirodna pojava kroz koju svatko prolazi. Starenje je prirodni proces u kojem se u tijelu događaju fiziološke i psihičke promjene. Mnoga društva susreću se sa značajnim promjenama u strukturi stanovništva jer se broj starijih ljudi povećava, a djece i adolescenata sve je manje. Uz globalni trend negativnijih stavova prema sve starijem stanovništvu, medicinske sestre moraju biti opremljene znanjem i vještinama kako bi ispunile značajne uloge u odgovaranju na buduće zdravstvene potrebe i potrebe skrbi. Zdravstveni radnici posebno su izloženi riziku od razvoja staračkih stavova jer su izloženi nerazmjernom postotku bolesnih ili ovisnih starijih ljudi. Cilj: Ispitati stavove zdravstvenih djelatnika o osobama starije životne dobi te usporediti odgovore s obzirom na dob, spol, radno mjesto i stručnu spremu. Metode: online anketni upitnik. Rezultati: Ispitani stavovi zdravstvenih djelatnika o osobama starije životne dobi globalno su pozitivni, dok su pronađeni određeni odgovori u kojima postoje statističke razlike u traženim varijablama dobi, spola, radnog mjesta i stručne spreme. Zaključak: Ispitani stavovi zdravstvenih djelatnika o osobama starije životne dobi razlikuju se s obzirom na spol, dob i stručnu spremu pri čemu ženski ispitanici, obrazovaniji ispitanici i mlađi imaju pozitivnije mišljenje o osobama starije životne dobi, kao i ispitanici koji neposredno rade s osobama starije životne dobi.Introduction: The last two centuries have witnessed an unprecedented increase in people's life expectancy. Aging is a biological process experienced by all organisms, including human beings. Old age is not a disease but a natural phenomenon that everyone goes through. Aging is a natural process in which physiological and psychological changes occur in the body. Many societies are facing significant changes in the structure of the population as the number of older people increases and the number of children and adolescents decreases. With the global trend of more negative attitudes towards an aging population, nurses must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to fulfill significant roles in responding to future health and care needs. Healthcare professionals are particularly at risk of developing aging attitudes because they are exposed to a disproportionate percentage of sick or dependent elderly people. Objective: To examine the attitudes of health professionals about the elderly and compare the answers regarding age, gender, workplace, and education. Methods: online survey questionnaire. Results: The examined attitudes of health professionals about elderly people in general are positive, while certain answers were found in which there are statistical differences in the required variables of age, gender, workplace, and education. Conclusion: The surveyed attitudes of health professionals about the elderly differ according to gender, age, and education, with female respondents, more educated respondents and younger ones having a more positive opinion about the elderly, as well as respondents working directly with the elderly