Attitude of Healthcare Professionals towards Physio-Emotional Health Care of the Aged Attending University Teaching Hospitals in Enugu State

Abstract

The study was conducted to ascertain the attitude of Health Care Professionals (HCPs) towards physio-emotional Healthcare of the aged attending University Teaching Hospitals in Enugu State. Two research questions and one null hypothesis guided the study. The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional survey research design. The population for the study comprised 2018 HCPs working with University Teaching Hospitals in Enugu State. The sample for the study was 332 HCPs drawn using purposive sampling technique. A 25-item structured questionnaire served as the instrument for data collection. The result of the study showed that overall attitudes of HCPs towards physical healthcare of the aged (x = 2.20) and emotional healthcare (x = 2.00) of the aged were negative. Gender had no significant influence on the attitude of HCPs towards the physical and emotional care of the aged. Following from the findings of the study, recommendations were made among which is that the government should make physical and emotional healthcare policy which will stipulate for the creation of the aged-healthcare unit in every general hospital in the nation. This unit should be manned by well-trained HCPs with positive attitude to play significant roles in responding to physical and emotional healthcare supports and needs of the elderly patients attending the hospital.