Myths and realities about old age and health in nursing students
Huizi Egilegor X., Uranga Iturriotz Mª.J., Alberdi Erice Mª.J., Zupiria Gorostidi X., Barandiaran Lasa M., Sanz Cascante X.

SUMMARY

Aim: To measure the knowledge about older people among nursing students and to find myths and stereotypes that could interfere in older patients´ care.

Methods: Epidemiological study with a sample of 264 undergraduate nursing students of the San Sebastian´s nursing school. Facts and aging quiz, Fernández-Ballesteros´ questionnaire, was used. This questionnaire has 23 items (questions) about older people, 11 are true and 12 are wrong.

Results: The number of right answers was quite high. The average of right answers was higher in the third year than in the second and first years. Among the wrong answers the following stands out: most of the students belief that most of older people feels lonely and that one out of ten live in an institution.

Conclusions: Some stereotypes have been found that could reduce older people´s independence. Also, this study gives some advice in order to improve nursing education.

KEY WORDS

Older people, old age, myth, knowledge, students-nursing, education.

Vol. 14 nº4-2003