https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/89839 2026-04-24T06:38:54Z 2026-04-24T06:38:54Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/90174 2022-03-02T15:34:48Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Attitudes, knowledge and educational needs in dementia care amongst physiotherapists working in Malta and Gozo Abstract: Background: There is a dearth of international and local information on the physiotherapists’ attitudes, knowledge base and educational needs in dementia care. This research study was deemed important as it shed light on the knowledge, types of attitudes and the perceived educational needs of physiotherapists working in Malta and Gozo. The number of persons living with dementia in Malta, is set to double from a population of 6,552 to 14,117 persons living with dementia in 2050 (Alzheimer Europe, 2019). In fact, the percentage of the Maltese population living with dementia will represent 3.31% of the population in 2050 when compared to 1.38% for the years 2018-2019. These estimates show how increasing awareness about dementia and its management amongst the local physiotherapy profession workforce is of utmost importance to enhance the delivery of care, awareness of dementia, and improve the quality of life of persons living with dementia. Aims: The aims of the study were to (a) explore the attitudes, (b) look at the knowledge base, and (c) identify the training needs of the whole population of physiotherapists working in Malta and Gozo regarding persons living with dementia. This research study also aimed to establish any relationship between the physiotherapists’ profile characteristics and the knowledge, attitudes and training needs. Design: A cross-sectional, quantitative research design was used for this research study. A self-administered questionnaire survey was sent by post to all the physiotherapists working in Malta and Gozo, registered with the Council for the Professions Complimentary to Medicine, at the time of the study. The questionnaire survey contained questions related to (a) profile characteristics of age, work setting, and previous dementia training, (b) the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge scale (ADKS) which assessed the knowledge base of the professionals on dementia, (c) the Dementia Attitudes scale (DAS) which explored the physiotherapists’ attitudes towards persons living with dementia, and (d) the Training Needs Survey which identified the physiotherapists’ training needs with respect to dementia care. ii Results: The physiotherapists’ overall (a) mean knowledge score was 23.2, (b) mean attitude score was 108.7, and (c) training needs score amounted to 48.3. These scores implied a positive relationship between physiotherapists’ knowledge levels and attitudes towards persons living with dementia. On the other hand, the training needs were not dependent on the physiotherapists’ knowledge levels and attitudes towards persons living with dementia. An association between the physiotherapists’ mean knowledge levels and attendance to dementia training was noted. Physiotherapists who attended dementia training achieved higher mean knowledge scores (23.9) when compared to physiotherapists who did not attend such training (22.9). Equally, the physiotherapists who attended to dementia training achieved higher mean attitude scores (115.6) when compared to those who did not attend such training (mean attitude score:105.8). There was also a significant relationship between the mean attitude score and the number of hours of training. Physiotherapists with no hours of training scored lower mean attitude scores (106.6) when compared to those with over 16 hours of dementia training (116.4). There was also a significant difference in the mean attitude scores between those physiotherapists who worked in primary care and those who worked in a long-term care residence. Physiotherapists working in a long-term care residence had better attitudes towards persons living with dementia (mean attitude score: 118.1), when compared to those who worked in primary care (99.8). Conclusion: The research findings indicated how physiotherapists lacked knowledge in dementia care. The physiotherapists lacked knowledge mainly in the risk factors and disease progression domain of the Alzheimer’s disease knowledge scale. In addition, room for improvement was noted in respect of the physiotherapists’ attitudes towards persons living with dementia. The local physiotherapists further perceived the need for additional training in dementia, as the majority did not attend to any dementia training. Physiotherapists pointed to, (a) dealing with challenging behaviours, (b) communication skills specific to persons living with dementia including non-verbal communication, (c) how to recognize that a person is living with cognitive problems, and how to distinguish from other conditions (e.g. depression), and (d) how to care for younger persons living with dementia, as the main topics wherein more education and knowledge was required. These findings suggested how education for physiotherapists, changes in clinical practice, policy changes, and further research about physiotherapy in dementia care were warranted. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/90157 2022-03-02T15:34:17Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Knowledge and attitudes of nurses in Malta's acute general hospital towards old age : a quantitative study Abstract: Background: The percentage of older people within our population is on the rise. Literature consistently suggest that the level of care that older people receive when they are admitted in hospitals is generally suboptimal. Nurses’ negative attitudes and inadequate level of knowledge strongly influence such level of care. Local research focusing on this subject is scarce, especially in the acute-setting in which older people are more prone to several complications. Objectives: To explore acute-care nurses’ level of knowledge and attitudes related to ageing and older people. To identify also any significant correlation that could exist between nurses’ knowledge and their attitudes and any socio-demographic characteristics that could affect their knowledge and attitudes. Designs and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional design, characterised by the collection of data through an online-questionnaire. Questionnaires were distributed to 339 nurses with a response rate of 48.4% (n=164). Kogan’s Attitude towards Old People scale and Palmore’s Facts on Ageing Quiz were the tools used in the questionnaire. Participants: All nurses working in the main medical and surgical wards within the local acutecare hospital. Results: The study findings reveal moderately poor level of knowledge and a moderately positive attitude score about old age and older adults among acute-care nurses. A positive correlation between nurses’ knowledge and attitudes was reported. Nurses with higher academic qualification and having additional geriatric/gerontology reported significant better attitudes towards old age and older people. Male nurses, Charge nurses, having attended an additional geriatric/gerontology course and having an older person living in the same household resulted in a significant better level of knowledge. Conclusion: In the local setting, further initiatives are warranted to improve nurses’ level of attitudes and knowledge among old age and older adults. This would result in older people receiving improved level of nursing care during their hospital admission. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/90152 2022-03-02T15:33:47Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Active ageing from older persons’ perspectives : a qualitative study in Luoyang, China Abstract: The active ageing concept has been overwhelmingly studied in Western societies. Yet, the way Chinese older persons view and experience active ageing in the context of Eastern culture and tradition is rarely reported. The three critical pillars of active ageing: health, participation and security as defined by World Health organisation (WHO, 2002) shift the focus on ageing population from a burden to a positive aspect of participation and contribution and calls on empowering the environment. This research adopted a qualitative approach. Data were collected through one-to-one, semi-structured virtual interviews with 16 older participants from Luoyang, a central, middle-sized city in China. The researcher sought to explore how older Chinese persons perceive and experience active ageing. Participants were recruited with the assistance of two gatekeepers. A purposive heterogeneous sample was applied and participants varied in terms of gender, dwelling location, education attainment, career background, pension status and family structure. Data were thematically analysed as guided by Braun and Clarke (2006). The general findings echo WHO’s active ageing six determinants (WHO, 2002). While intertwined, one or more factors may compensate or dominate others. Time-honoured filial piety tradition ingrained in the Chinese culture, and social values were found to retain a significant influence on older person’s expectations and behaviour. Within the context of rapid economic development and demographic transition, older persons themselves and younger generations are interactively adapting to a newly-shaped reciprocal relationship. Five dimensions of active ageing from the perspectives of older persons have been identified from this research. The prominent characteristics of these dimensions stems from filial piety tradition, which is being maintained and inherited by generations’ efforts to deal with the ageing challenge, and maintain health and family-bond productivity. The findings suggest that active ageing policy should consider older persons’ psychological and cultural expectations for a better quality of life. Given the large scale and speed of ageing, China has to conduct fundamental research based on its own cultural, traditional and social-economic situation, in the meantime, actively learn from Western experience to develop and implement “right-based” active ageing policies. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/90147 2022-03-02T15:33:10Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The experiences and expectations of persons living within the community with early-stage dementia Abstract: Background: As the world population ages, the number of older persons living with dementia (OPLWD) is also increasing. Due to the cognitive changes that occur as a result of dementia, the OPLWD is most often overlooked, and not given a voice. International literature revealed that OPLWD are able to put their experiences into words. They are able to express how they live their day-to-day lives with the condition, and what they expect from the future. Aims: After identifying a gap in the literature, this study aimed to explore the lived experiences of OPLWD in the community in Malta. This study aimed to discover the experiences, feelings, needs and challenges that the OPLWD faced in their day-to-day life. Another aim was to explore what OPLWD anticipated for the future. Method: A qualitative research approach was utilised for the study in order to gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives of OPLWD, and their lived experiences. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was considered as the best approach to take, in order to capture in detail the lived experiences of OPLWD. Purposive sampling was used to obtain participants, in accordance to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Six (6) face-to-face semistructured interviews were carried out. These consisted of 4 males and 2 females. A pilot study was carried out with 2 participants (1 male; 1 female). Results: After analysing the data, 4 superordinate themes emerged: (a) towards a dementia diagnosis, (b) experiencing losses, (c) relationships with family and friends and (d) life goes on. Respective subordinate themes emerged. The experiences of the older persons may have varied from each other, showing how important it is to hear the whole story from the OPLWD, and that each lived experience is unique in its own way. Conclusion: This study proved to be significant as there is dearth in international literature, and no local research study, on the first-hand lived experiences and expectations of OPLWD. This study gave OPLWD the opportunity to share their feelings, experiences, needs and struggles, and provided a richer understanding that took into consideration the symptoms of dementia as they are lived, articulated by the OPLWD themselves. Recommendations were provided to policymakers, institutions and to healthcare professionals, with the aim of empowering the OPLWD and offering more support. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z