"Are nurses ready for dementia care? Insights into knowledge, attitudes, and practice".
- 1Department of Mental Health Nursing, SUM Nursing College, Siksha 'O' Anushandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
- 2Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, SUM Nursing College, SOA Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
- 3Department of Psychiatry, IMS and SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Abstract
Background
Dementia is a severe global health issue closely related to population aging. Nurses are mainly responsible for dementia care, but gaps in knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) can affect the quality of care. This study conducted to dementia-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among student nurses and staff nurses, and identified demographic and professional factors associated with these competencies.Materials and methods
A hospital-based cross-sectional comparative study was adopted with total enumerative sampling technique among 350 participants (150 student nurses and 200 staff nurses) at Sum Nursing College and IMS and SUM Hospital Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Data were collected using a Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS), the Attitudes toward Alzheimer's disease and Related Dementias Scale, and Self-reported Dementia Care Practice scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results
The mean knowledge score ranged from 9.18 ± 3.35 to 10.22 ± 2.99. Attitude scores ranged from 74.92 ± 14.70 to 86.36 ± 15.37. Practice scores were between 35.60 ± 7.70 and 39.30 ± 6.40. Knowledge strongly correlated with attitude (r = 0.41, P < .001) and practice (r = 0.38, P < .001). The strongest correlation was between attitude and practice (r = 0.62, P < .001). Older age, higher education, more work experience, dementia-care experience, and prior training were all significantly associated with higher scores (P < .05).Conclusion
Nurses' dementia care competencies were moderate and influenced by their experience and training. Further research is needed to determine whether targeted educational and training interventions can lead to meaningful improvements in dementia care.
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BibTeX
@article{pahantasingh2026nurses,
title = {{"Are nurses ready for dementia care? Insights into knowledge, attitudes, and practice".}},
author = {Suchismita Pahantasingh and Sasmita Das and Surjeet Sahoo},
journal = {Journal of education and health promotion},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.4103/jehp.jehp_531_26},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923863},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - "Are nurses ready for dementia care? Insights into knowledge, attitudes, and practice".
AU - Suchismita Pahantasingh
AU - Sasmita Das
AU - Surjeet Sahoo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Journal of education and health promotion
DO - 10.4103/jehp.jehp_531_26
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923863
AB - Background Dementia is a severe global health issue closely related to population aging. Nurses are mainly responsible for dementia care, but gaps in knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) can affect the quality of care. This study conducted to dementia-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among student nurses and staff nurses, and identified demographic and professional factors associated with these competencies.Materials and methods A hospital-based cross-sectional comparative study was adopted with total enumerative sampling technique among 350 participants (150 student nurses and 200 staff nurses) at Sum Nursing College and IMS and SUM Hospital Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Data were collected using a Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS), the Attitudes toward Alzheimer's disease and Related Dementias Scale, and Self-reported Dementia Care Practice scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results The mean knowledge score ranged from 9.18 ± 3.35 to 10.22 ± 2.99. Attitude scores ranged from 74.92 ± 14.70 to 86.36 ± 15.37. Practice scores were between 35.60 ± 7.70 and 39.30 ± 6.40. Knowledge strongly correlated with attitude (r = 0.41, P < .001) and practice (r = 0.38, P < .001). The strongest correlation was between attitude and practice (r = 0.62, P < .001). Older age, higher education, more work experience, dementia-care experience, and prior training were all significantly associated with higher scores (P < .05).Conclusion Nurses' dementia care competencies were moderate and influenced by their experience and training. Further research is needed to determine whether targeted educational and training interventions can lead to meaningful improvements in dementia care.
SN - 2277-9531
SN - 2319-6440
ER -