{
  "abstract": "Background With the rapid increase in the number of older adults living with chronic diseases and disabilities, there is a growing need to prepare nurses with positive attitudes and a willingness to work with older adults. This study aims to examine attitudes towards and willingness to work with older adults among nurses.Methodology A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a purposive sample of 267 nurses at the University Hospital of Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic variables, Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Old People Scale and questions related to willingness to work with older adults. Descriptive statistics and linear and logistic regression analyses were used in data analysis.Results The majority were female nurses (71.9%, n=192) and held slightly negative (58%, n=155) or slightly positive (41.9%, n=122) attitudes towards working with older adults. Only 35.2% (n=94) were willing to work with older adults in this study. A male nurse (beta coefficient (β)=4.644, CI 2.392 to 6.896, p<0.001), aged 30–40 years (β=4.734, CI 1.877 to 7.592, p<0.01) and living in their own house (β=5.071, CI 2.819 to 7.323, p<0.001) had significant positive associations with nurses’ attitudes towards older people, whereas living in hospital quarters (β=−5.358, CI −8.889 to −1.817, p<0.01), having more than 15 years of work experience (β=−16.754, CI −28.926 to −4.582, p<0.01) and having a family income between 50 000 and 100 000 Sri Lankan rupees (β=−4.060, CI −6.213 to −1.907, p<0.001) had significant negative associations with attitudes in adjusted models. Positive significant associations were found only in male nurses (OR=0.473, CI=0.266 to 0.840, p<0.05), living in an extended family (OR=2.290, CI 1.096 to 4.783, p<0.05) and having a family income of less than 50 000 Sri Lankan rupees (OR=0.168, CI=0.038, 0.737, p<0.05), whereas no negatively associated factors were found with willingness to work with older adults in logistic regression models.Conclusions Most nurses express slightly negative to positive attitudes and have little interest in working with older adults. Various socio-demographic factors have an impact on attitudes towards and willingness to work with older adults. Since nurses play a significant role in providing care for older adults, the development of positive attitudes is essential, and interventions and strategies are crucial to increasing their willingness to work with older adults.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Nursing and Midwifery, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka"
      ],
      "name": "RT Balachandra"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Nursing and Midwifery, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka"
      ],
      "name": "RAP Hansamali"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Nursing and Midwifery, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka"
      ],
      "name": "SM Dhananjaya"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Nursing and Midwifery, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka"
      ],
      "name": "WPIP Premarathna"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Nursing and Midwifery, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka"
      ],
      "name": "H S Maliga S K Wijesiri"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Digital Innovations in Health and Social Care, University of Bradford, Bradford, England, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Sarath Rathnayake"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Attitudes towards and willingness to work with older adults among nurses in a university hospital, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study",
  "uid": "11aeb6d5-aa47-52fa-89ce-c6cac78f0d84"
}