Znanja o starosti i starenju u usporedbi s anksioznosti prema starenju kod budućih zdravstvenih djelatnika

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the impact of different factors (demographic determinants, coexistence with the elderly, education and anxiety towards aging) on knowledge about age and aging, between respondents of the University Department of Health Studies Split and respondents of the School of Medicine, University of Split. METHODS: The measuring instrument for this study was an online questionnaire that used the Palmore Questionnaire on Aging and the Anxiety about Aging Scale in addition to basic demographic determinants. The research included students of the undergraduate and graduate study program of Nursing, University Department of Health Studies, University of Split and students of the integrated graduate study program of Medicine, Dental Medicine and Pharmacy from School of Medicine, University of Split. RESULTS: The average level of knowledge of the respondents who did not attend classes in geriatrics and those who did was determined, but no difference was found (Z = 0.41; P = 0.678). No correlation was found between the level of knowledge and the factors of anxiety and fear of older people (r=0.050; P=0.275), nor between the level of knowledge and the factor of anxiety of psychological concerns (r=0.07; P=0.144). No statistically significant difference was found between the level of knowledge and concern for one's own appearance (r=0.050; P=0.350). The correlation between the level of knowledge and the anxiety factor of fear of loss is negative and statistically significant (r=0.11; P<0.019). The level of knowledge was negatively and statistically significantly associated with anxiety towards aging (r=0.10; P=0.042). Testing did not determine the difference in the level of knowledge about the elderly and the aging process between students who have experience of coexistence with the elderly and those who do not (Z=1.90; P=0.057). The mean value of anxiety towards aging was 0.05 points higher in the female respondents compared to the male respondents, while the test did not determine the existence of a difference (Z=0.57; P=0.566). No statistically significant difference was found in the level of anxiety about aging in relation to age and gender. The mean value of the fear of the elderly factor is the same in respondents of both sexes (Z=1.75; P=0.080) and testing did not determine any difference. The same conclusion was reached for the factor of psychological concern (Z=0.82; P=0.411), the factor of concern for physical appearance (Z = 0.90; P=0.368) and fear of loss factor (Z=0.43; P=0.671). CONCLUSIONS: According to the obtained results, we can conclude that the respondents have a medium level of knowledge about the elderly and the aging process. Given that these are future health professionals and that the respondents have anxiety about aging, the results indicate the need for additional education in the field of geriatrics, as well as increasing interaction with the elderly through the practical part of teaching.