Factors Affecting Staff Attitude towards Elderly Patients in Healthcare: A Critical Study

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A Critical Study of the Factors that Affect Staff Attitude towards Elderly Patients
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RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Abstract
The rise in the elderly group of people is the main concern in the healthcare system. In
this research the main aim is to analyze numerous factors that affect the behaviour of the nurses
towards the aged group of population and thereby resulting in challenging behaviour. In order to
elucidate the research aim, the research will conduct the literature review followed by an
interview with the registered nurses with open-ended questionnaire. Their responses will be used
to validate the objective of the research while answering the research questions.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................5
1.1. Background of research........................................................................................................5
1.2. Problem Statement................................................................................................................5
1.3. Rationale...............................................................................................................................6
1.4. Aims and Objectives.............................................................................................................6
1.5. Research objectives..............................................................................................................7
1.6. Research questions................................................................................................................7
1.7. Structure of the dissertation......................................................................................................8
2.1 Literature Review......................................................................................................................9
2.2 Introduction............................................................................................................................9
2.3 Conceptual framework.........................................................................................................10
2.3.1 Conflict and aggression with the patient and their family members............................10
2.3.2. Long working hours and storage of staffs...................................................................11
2.3.3. Lack of proper training................................................................................................12
2.3.4. Poor working environment..........................................................................................12
2.3.5. Impact on health and well-being of the elderly patients..............................................13
2.4. Summary.............................................................................................................................14
3. Methodology..............................................................................................................................15
3.1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................15

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3.2. Research philosophy...........................................................................................................15
3.3. Research approach..............................................................................................................15
3.4. Research Design.................................................................................................................15
3.5. Data collection and analysis...............................................................................................16
3.6. Sampling method................................................................................................................16
3.10. Measures...........................................................................................................................17
3.11. List of questionnaire.........................................................................................................17
3.12. Ethical consideration........................................................................................................17
3.13. Summary...........................................................................................................................17
3.14. Time schedule (Gantt chart).............................................................................................17
4. Data Analysis.............................................................................................................................18
4.1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................18
4.2. Qualitative Data analysis of Interview Question................................................................18
5. Conclusion and Recommendation.............................................................................................21
5.1. Conclusion..........................................................................................................................21
5.2. Linking objectives with the findings..................................................................................21
5.3. Recommendation................................................................................................................22
6. Research limitations...................................................................................................................23
7. References..................................................................................................................................24
Appendix........................................................................................................................................28

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Appendix A................................................................................................................................28
List of questionnaires.............................................................................................................28
Appendix B................................................................................................................................29
Time plan of the research......................................................................................................29

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1. Introduction
1.1. Background of research
Nursing is the principal healthcare profession which has major contribution towards
overall wellbeing of the patient. Nurses are responsible for the well-being of the patient via
delivering holistic care. However, behaviour, skills and competencies of the nursing staffs have
profound impact on the well-being and tenure of hospital stay of the patient (Bodner et al.,
2015). Among the patients in the hospital, one of the significant age group is the older
population. According to Tremont and Davis, (2014) in the contemporary society, increases in
the number of people who are in their mid-60s are gradually becoming threat for the global
healthcare system. Increase in aged population is also associated with the increase in the
numerous complex disease like cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, musculoskeletal
disease as well as gastro-intestinal disorders (Pleasant et al., 2017). This increase in
physiological complications along with the increase in the rate of hospitalisation has increased
the responsibilities of the nurses. Moreover, older population gradually tend to lose their mental
and physical strength for which they require additional physical, mental, emotional and spiritual
support and this further increases the challenge of the nursing staffs (Oosterom-Calo et al.,
2015).
1.2. Problem Statement
There are various evidences centring the challenging attitude of the nurses towards the
elderly clients which reducess the overall well-being along with increase in the tenure of hospital
stay (Davison et al., 2016). According to Davison et al. (2016), negative attitude of nursing staffs
who are concerned with the elderly care are higher and there are several internal and external

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factors contributing towards this negative attitude. However, what exact are the factors or the
underlying reason behind this negative attitude, are not elucidated. But the key concern is these
kind of pessimistic attitudes of the nursing staffs is actually hampering the quality of care along
with emotional and spiritual well-being of the elderly population. Chen et al. (2016) have
highlighted long working hours, lack of skills and unmanageable behaviour of the patients are
the major contributing factor behind the negative attitude of the nurses. However, certain internal
issues behaviour of the nursing professionals is also significant in this context. Thus it is crucial
to identify the actual contributing factors towards the negative attitude or challenging behaviour
of the nurses treating the elderly population. The exploration of the research context will mostly
be based on the identification and subsequent elimination of the factors promoting negative
attitude of nurses towards older population.
1.3. Rationale
The challenging behaviour of the nurses towards the elderly population has become a
serious issue in the healthcare sectors throughout the world. Therefore the present study will aim
to identify the factors which are the major contributors the negative behaviour of the nursing
staffs. Moreover, identification of these factors will help to increase the quality of care along
with health care policies like training of the nursing staffs with a special focus on the patient
satisfaction (Hynnien et al. 2015). Thus alternatively it can be said that the research findings will
improve the overall quality of the health care services while increasing the level of satisfaction
among the care givers and the care receivers.
1.4. Aims and Objectives

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The aim of the research is to analyze numerous factors that modulates the attitude of the
nursing professionals towards the elderlypatients and thereby giving rise of challenging
behaviour.
1.5. Research objectives
1. To examine the impact of numerous factors that cause change in the overall attitude of
the nurses towards the elderly people
2. To analyse whether these factors affects the mental and physical well-being of the elderly
person who is receiving the care
3. To recommend the best ways to refine the attitude of the nurses towards elderly people
1.6. Research questions
 What are the attitudes of the nurses towards the elderly group of patients?
 What is the impact of the ratio of nursing professional staffing on elderly care?
 What factors influence the attitudes of the nurses in elderly care?