Attitudes towards ageing of Speech-language Pathology students in a Chilean University

Henríquez, Felipe; Retamal, Natalia; Silva, Fernanda; Morales, Camilo

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Original Article • CoDAS 32 (1) • 2020 • https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20192019010 copy

Attitudes towards ageing of Speech-language Pathology students in a Chilean University

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Describe the attitudes towards ageing of senior undergraduate Speech-language Pathology students in a Chilean University.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study in which the validated Spanish version of the Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Old People Scale (KAOP) was applied to 43 students in the aforementioned course. The average scores were compared for the variables gender and interaction with the elderly.

Results

A trend towards a positive attitude was observed. No differences were found for the variables described. An analysis was carried out with the items in which trends towards negative attitude were reported, and the implications were discussed.

Conclusion

Although a positive attitude was reported, aspects of student academic training should be more comprehensively studied with a view to improving the quality of assistance provided to the elderly.

Keywords
Elderly; Ageing; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Students; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; Gerontology

Topic	n (%)
Total	43 (100)
Age	23.95 ± 1.5 years
Gender
- Female	35(81)
- Male	8(19)
Marital status
- Single	30(70)
- In a relationship	13(30)
Shares space with senior citizens
- Yes	28(65)
- No	15(35)
Parents are senior citizens
- Yes	4(14)^* * Of the total number of positive responses (multiple response question)
- No	24(86)*
Grandparents living
- Yes	24(86)*
- No	4(14)*
Senior citizen neighbours
- Yes	12(43)*
- No	16(57)*
Volunteer in a seniors group
- Yes	3(11)*
- No	25(89)*
Has a disabled family member
- Yes	15(35)
- No	28(65)
Responsible for a disabled senior citizen
- Yes	3(7)*
- No	40(93)*
Personally, without help
- Yes	0(0)*
- No	3(100)*
Personally, with help
- Yes	3(100)*
- No	0(0)*
Gives economic support by paying a family member
- Yes	0(0)*
- No	3(100)*
Gives economic support by paying a carer
- Yes	0(0)*
- No	3(100)*
Religious believer
- Yes	28(65)
- No	15(35)

ITEM
1(-) It would probably be better if most old people lived in residential units with people of their own age.
2(+) It would probably be better if most old people lived in residential units that also housed younger people.
3(-) There is something different about most old people: it’s hard to figure out what makes them tick.
4(+) Most old people are really no different from anybody else: they’re as easy to understand as younger people.
5(-) Most old people get set in their ways and are unable to change.
6(+) Most old people are capable of new adjustments when the situation demands it.
7(-) Most old people would prefer to quit work as soon as pensions or their children can support them.
8(+) Most old people would prefer to continue working just as long as they possibly can rather than be dependent on anybody.
9(-) Most old people tend to let their homes become shabby and unattractive.
10(+) Most old people can generally be counted on to maintain a clean, attractive home.
11(-) It is foolish to claim that wisdom comes with old age.
12(+) People grow wiser with the coming of old age.
13(-) Old people have too much power in business and politics.
14(+) Old people should have more power in business and politics.
15 (-) Most old people make one feel ill at ease.
16(+) Most old people are very relaxing to be with.
17(-) Most old people bore others by their insistence on talking about the “good old days”.
18(+) One of the most interesting and entertaining qualities of most old people is their accounts of their past experiences.
19(-) Most old people spend too much time prying into the affairs of others and giving unsought advice.
20(+) Most old people tend to keep to themselves and give advice only when asked.
21(-) If old people expect to be liked, their first step is to try to get rid of their irritating faults.
22(+) When you think about it, old people have the same faults as anybody else.
23(-) In order to maintain a nice residential neighborhood, it would be best if too many old people did not live in it.
24(+) You can count on finding a nice residential neighborhood when there is a sizeable number of old people living in it.
25(-) There are a few exceptions, but in general most old people are pretty much alike.
26(+) It is evident that most old people are very different from one another.
27(-) Most old people should be more concerned with their personal appearance; they’re too untidy.
28(+) Most old people seem to be quite clean and neat in their personal appearance.
29(-) Most old people are irritable, grouchy, and unpleasant.
30(+) Most old people are cheerful, agreeable, and good humored.
31(-) Most old people are constantly complaining about the behavior of the younger generation.
32(+) One seldom hears old people complaining about the behavior of the younger generation.
33(-) Most old people make excessive demands for love and reassurance.
34(+) Most old people need no more love and reassurance than anyone else.

KOAP item	Strongly agree n (%)	Agree n (%)	Slightly agree n (%)	Slightly disagree n (%)	Disagree n (%)	Strongly disagree n (%)	x ± S.D.	CI (95%)
5(-)	11(25.6%)	7(16.3%)	21(48.8)	3(7.0)	1(2.3)	0(0.0)	2.4 ± 1.0	2.1-2.8
6(+)	3(7.0)	6(14.0)	5(11.6)	11(25.6)	13(30.2)	5(11.6)	4.8 ± 1.3	2.6-3.6
31(-)	6(14.0)	13(30.2)	20(46.5)	1(2.3)	2(4.7)	1(2.3)	2.6 ± 1.0	2.3-2.9
32(+)	2(4.7)	0(0.0)	5(11.6)	18(41.9)	11(25.6)	7(16.3)	4.2 ± 1.5	2.3-3.0
34(+)	0(0.0)	0(0.0)	6(14.0)	10(23.3)	6(14.0%)	21(48.8)	3.6 ± 1.4	1.2-2.4

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[1] Conflict of interest: nothing to declare.