Effectiveness of Educational Programme on Knowledge regarding Abuse and Age-related Changes among Elderly Population

Abstract

Introduction: Age-related changes are a universal and regular process of ageing. Normal ageing produces changes in structures and functions of organs, and abuses is widespread among the elderly population and is a highly complicated problem. Aim: To assess effectiveness of educational programme on knowledge regarding abuse and age-related changes among elderly population. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental research study was conducted in India from 1st December 2019 to 30th December 2019, through a community-based survey in Padmashree Institute of Nursing in Kommaghatta Rural community, Bengaluru, India. This survey was conducted among 60 elderly people using a systematic random sampling technique. An educational programme was conducted as an intervention to impart knowledge to the elderly. Questionnaires were used to assess the knowledge of abuse and age-related changes. Data was analysed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: The study findings showed that in the pretest level of knowledge, none of the subjects had adequate knowledge, whereas, post-test in the educational programme, the majority had moderately adequate knowledge (76.7%). The pretest mean score was 49.7% which showed adequate improvement in the post-test score level of 70.6%, which was statistically significant (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: The study finds evidence that nurses working in the community setting needs to use educational programmes to improve knowledge regarding abuse and age-related changes among the elderly, which helps in preventing elderly abuses.

Keywords

• ageing
• elderly abuses
• structured questionnaire