Staff attitudes towards older patients with cognitive impairment: need for improvements in acute care

To explore the attitudes held by staff working in acute care units towards patients aged 70 years or older with cognitive impairment, and to explore factors associated with negative attitudes.

Hospital staff attitudes towards older patients with cognitive impairment are of concern as older people are the main hospital users, and because staff attitudes influence care quality and uptake of evidence-based care.

A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from staff (n = 391).

Staff attitudes were not explicitly negative. However, higher perceived strain in caring for older patients with cognitive impairment, higher perceived prevalence of these patients in the ward, being younger and working as an assistant nurse were associated with negative attitudes. A majority of staff reported that these patients received the best possible care, but few reported formally assessing cognitive status or working with evidence-based care protocols.

Staff characteristics associated with negative attitudes were described and staff perception that patients received best hospital care, despite limited cognitive assessments and care guidelines, indicate areas for improvement.

Supporting young staff and assistant nurses, and implementing cognitive assessments and evidence-based guidelines can promote positive attitudes and best practice.