Nursing students’ knowledge and perception regarding self-neglect in elderly at School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Loading...
Date
2021-07
Authors
Din, Muhammad Arrasyid
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Self-neglect is a worrying phenomenon that mainly occurs in elderly
population. Study found that the most significant barrier to intervene self-neglect in
elderly is the incomplete understanding of the phenomenon that continues despite the
consistency of self-neglect research. Since nursing students are the future healthcare
providers for the elderly population, the need of nursing students with the positive
perception, adequate knowledge and skill are crucial in protecting and enhancing the
health of this vulnerable population. Thus, a cross-sectional study was carried out to
study the nursing students’ knowledge and perception regarding self-neglect in elderly
at School of Health Sciences, USM. The questionnaire used in this study was a selfadministered
questionnaire consist of 9 questions on knowledge and 16 questions on
perception regarding self-neglect in elderly. A total of 111 nursing students in School
of Health Sciences, USM who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were
selected purposively. Data collected were statistically analyzed using the SPSS
software version 25.0. Pearson Chi-Square test has been used for data analysis. The
finding revealed that nursing students at School of Health Sciences, USM have a high
level of knowledge (n= 87, 77.7%) and positive perception (n= 84, 75.7%) toward
elderly. Despite a statistically insignificant between family type and living experience
with an elderly member, majority of the nursing students who lived in nuclear family
and those who had living experience with an elderly member reported themselves to
have positive perception toward elderly. Similarly, although there is an insignificant
association between level of knowledge and level of perception, those nursing students
who regarded themselves with a positive perception were among those who have a
higher knowledge level about self-neglect in elderly. However, there still a need to
increase the nursing students’ awareness and improve their knowledge and perception
regarding this issue as they will be more knowledgeable and skilful in delivering a good
and quality care towards the elderly.
Description
Keywords
Self care