Knowledge of emergency nurses and related factors toward geriatric: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the geriatric knowledge of emergency nurses and related factors. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on nursing students at Guilan University of Medical Sciences in Iran. The objective was to assess the geriatric knowledge of nurses working in the emergency departments of educational and therapeutic centers in Rasht City. The sample was selected through a census sampling method, including all nurses employed in these departments. Data collection was carried out using a three-part questionnaire, which included sections on “personal and occupational characteristics” and the “Questionnaire of Awareness about the Facts of Aging (FAQ)”. Results: A total of 190 emergency department nurses participated in this study. The mean age of the participants was 34.41 years (SD=6.37). The mean score for geriatric knowledge among the nurses was 6.58 (SD=2.24). No statistically significant associations were found between geriatric knowledge and the personal or occupational variables of the nurses. Also, the results showed that changes in nurses’ geriatric knowledge are explained to a small extent through personal and occupational characteristics. Conclusion: Overall, these results highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve emergency nurses’ understanding of geriatric care. Furthermore, given the lack of significant correlations with demographic and occupational variables, future research should investigate additional factors that may influence emergency nurses’ knowledge in this area.