Walker Nicole, Dissanayaka Nadeeka N, Scott Theresa, Manchha Asmita, Pachana Nancy A
School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
UQ Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Int J Older People Nurs. 2019 Dec;14(4):e12268. doi: 10.1111/opn.12268. Epub 2019 Sep 5.
The ageing population is increasing, and negative attitudes towards older people are all too common and largely overlooked. However, little research has examined how ageist, prejudice, and discrimination, that often occur in healthcare settings, impact the community's perceptions of entering Residential Aged Care (RAC) in the future. In particular, studies have not investigated how contact with RAC influences individuals' attitudes towards RAC facilities, residents and staff. This study is the first to examine individuals' resistance towards living in RAC using the contact hypothesis, a theory of prejudice reduction.
To explore how positive or negative contact with RAC residents and staff impacts individuals' behavioural intentions towards entering RAC in the future. To examine whether perceptions of trust, independence and RAC staff mediate the relationship between contact and behavioural intentions towards entering RAC in the future.
A cross-sectional survey design.
Data were collected via online surveys using contact (positive or negative), trust, independence, perceptions of RAC staff and resistance levels (mild refusal or extreme refusal) measures. Participants (n = 373) from Australia and USA were recruited using social media, word of mouth and Amazons Mechanical Turk.
Individuals who experienced negative contact with RAC residents and staff were more likely to report intense resistance to RAC, "I would rather die than enter RAC". Whereas, positive contact with RAC residents and staff was associated with reductions in the adverse appraisal of RAC staff; a diminished perception that individuals lost their independence, and an increased trust in RAC residents, facilities and staff. Participants from USA reported greater levels of resistance towards RAC in comparison with participants from Australia. This study demonstrates how interactions with RAC residents, facilities and staff are critical in shaping attitudes towards RAC.
It is recommended that the public are exposed to opportunities where they can experience positive contact with RAC. RAC facilities can promote interaction between the public and RAC residents through encouraging participation in community partnership programs/intergenerational programs.
老龄化人口正在增加，对老年人的负面态度非常普遍且大多被忽视。然而，很少有研究探讨在医疗环境中经常出现的年龄歧视、偏见和歧视如何影响社区未来对进入老年护理院（RAC）的看法。特别是，研究尚未调查与老年护理院的接触如何影响个人对老年护理院设施、居民和工作人员的态度。本研究首次使用接触假说（一种减少偏见的理论）来检验个人对入住老年护理院的抵触情绪。
探讨与老年护理院居民和工作人员的正面或负面接触如何影响个人未来进入老年护理院的行为意图。检验对信任、独立性和老年护理院工作人员的看法是否介导接触与未来进入老年护理院的行为意图之间的关系。
横断面调查设计。
通过在线调查收集数据，使用接触（正面或负面）、信任、独立性、对老年护理院工作人员的看法和抵触程度（轻度拒绝或极端拒绝）等测量指标。通过社交媒体、口碑和亚马逊的Mechanical Turk招募了来自澳大利亚和美国的参与者（n = 373）。
与老年护理院居民和工作人员有负面接触的个人更有可能报告对老年护理院有强烈抵触情绪，“我宁愿死也不愿进入老年护理院”。而与老年护理院居民和工作人员的正面接触与对老年护理院工作人员的负面评价减少、认为个人失去独立性的看法减弱以及对老年护理院居民、设施和工作人员的信任增加有关。与澳大利亚的参与者相比，美国参与者对老年护理院的抵触程度更高。这项研究表明与老年护理院居民、设施和工作人员的互动在塑造对老年护理院的态度方面至关重要。
建议让公众有机会体验与老年护理院的正面接触。老年护理院设施可以通过鼓励参与社区伙伴关系项目/代际项目来促进公众与老年护理院居民之间的互动。
