Attitudes of nurses and student nurses towards working with older people and to gerontological nursing as a career in Germany, Scotland, Slovenia, Sweden, Japan and the United States.

The aim of this study was to describe attitudes towards caring for older people among nurses and student nurses in six participating countries. Working with older people has historically had a negative profile and, with a global rise in the numbers of older people and a global shortage of nurses, it is essential to recruit nurses into this area. This study gathered data from six countries to explore nurses' and student nurses' attitudes to nursing older people and to gerontological nursing as a career. A convenience sample of 1064 nursing students and 2585 nurses in six countries answered the Multifactorial Attitudes Questionnaire (MAQ), designed to elicit attitudes towards caring for older people and to the esteem that comes with working in this field. The MAQ consists of seven positive and thirteen negative statements, and uses a Likert scale. A higher total score indicates a more positive attitude. Differences in attitudes among the six counties was observed for both nursing students and for nurses ( < 0.001). Nursing students in Scotland and the USA had the highest mean scores, and Slovenia and Sweden were the countries with the lowest mean scores. The highest scores for nurses were reported in Scotland and Sweden, and the lowest scores in Germany and Japan. From the findings, it is suggested that formal nursing education to students between 18 and 29 years of age has high importance for positive attitudes towards working with older people

Potential of machine learning in linking national airborne radiometric data to soil class mapping

poster presentatio

Complex Investigations of Double Layer of Colloid Particles. Electric Conductivity of Suspensions and Anisotropy of Electrophoresis

Conditions for obtaining quantitative .ililformation on the double layer of colloid particles on the basis of electrosurface measurements have been analyzed. A rigorous theory of electric conductivdty of diluted suspensions on the basis of induced dilpole moments of particles has been presented. The .isoconductance point of a suspension has been shown to codncide wd.th the isopolarisation state of a particle. A theory of anisotropy of the electrophoresis of long rod-like particles has been put forward. The identity of the formules of electrophoresis of a sphere and of cylindrical particles oriented pevpendicular towards the field at a small thickness of the double layer has been shown. A good agreement has been found between the values of induced dipole moments and, specific surface conductivity in a wide electrolite concentration range measured by the methods of electric conductivity of suspensions and anisotropy of electrophoresis. The theories of induced dipole moment, electric conductivity of suspension and anisotropy of electrophoresis have been experimentally examined

The influence of drinking games on drinking behavior, psychosocial variables, and harmful behaviors

College student alcohol use is a major public health concern in the United States due to high personal (e.g., risky sexual behavior, alcohol poisoning) and societal (e.g., driving under the influence) costs associated with this behavior. Drinking games have emerged as a significant influence on heaviness and frequency of college student drinking. The purpose of this study was to learn more about drinking games on college campuses using data from an intervention study targeting a primarily undergraduate student population of heavy drinkers. Specific research questions were: (1) What are the most common types of drinking games observed on a large state university campus?; (2) Are specific demographic and psychosocial variables related to playing drinking games and the choice of drinking game?; (3) Are there gender differences in drinking behavior?; (4) Are specific harmful behaviors (e.g., drunk driving) related to playing drinking games and the choice of drinking game? Research questions were addressed using a secondary data analysis conducted with baseline data from an intervention study targeting heavy drinkers using university health services at a large state university (n = 363; NIAAA grant #1 U18 2AA015673- 0l). Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Demographic (age, gender, ethnicity, grade level, GPA), psychosocial data (church attendance, significant life event, stress level, depressed/hopeless, loss of pleasure) and harmful behaviors (fighting, not do homework, miss school or work, driven after 3 or more drinks, ridden with someone who drank 3 or more drinks, regrets) were collected using close ended items. Drinking game data were collected using a free response measure (respondents listed up to 5 drinking games they regularly played). Additionally, drinking behaviors (age first use alcohol, in high school how many days in 30 drink 4-5 drinks in a row, currently how many days in 30 drink 4-5 drinks in a row, in past 30 days greatest amount of drinks in a row, in typical week how many days drunk) were also collected using a free response measure. In preparation for data analysis, drinking game data were coded using 6 categories identified by Bosari, et al (2004; motor skills, verbal skills, gambling, media, team, consumption) and an additional category, board (board games). Research questions were addressed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests. The results of this study indicate that 7 6% of the respondents play drinking games. Of those who play drinking games motor skills games (Beer Pong 70.3%), gambling games (Circle of Death (34.8%), F*** the Dealer (14.5%), and A **hole (10.9%)), and team games (Flip Cup 38.8%) were the most common types of drinking games. Gender, age, educational year, and ethnicity were all associated with type of drinking game (p \u3c .05). Depression and feelings of hopelessness lasting at least 30 days was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of involvement in consumption games and attending religious services was associated with a decreased likelihood of involvement in consumption games (p \u3c .05). Harmful behaviors were significantly associated with participation in drinking games (p \u3c .05). As freshman and younger persons were more likely than others to play the different types of drinking games and the five most popular drinking games tl\is places them at risk for accidents, injury or death. Colleges and Universities need to provide programs to incoming freshman educating them about the risks involved in heavy or frequent alcohol consumption. Additionally, don\u27t drink and drive campaigns must become stronger and include a don\u27t ride with someone who is driving drunk component because almost 60% of respondents have driven a motor vehicle after having 3 or more drinks and 71.4% have ridden in a motor vehicle with someone they knew had three or more drinks. Finally, as 25% of the respondents started drinking before the age of 15, early intervention is needed to educate children about alcohol and the risks of heavy and frequent drinking. An alcohol awareness program should be started for elementary school children in the same way stop smoking programs have been implemented at early ages

Attitudes towards caring for older people in Scotland, Sweden and the United States: Angela Kydd and colleagues compare data from three countries to assess what staff think about working in the specialty

Aim To explore the attitudes of nurses and nursingstudents in Scotland, Sweden and the US towardsworking with older people.Method This quantitative study used the 20-itemMultifactorial Attitudes Questionnaire (MAQ) to elicitattitudes on ageism, resources, working environment,education and professional esteem. Researchers fromeach country distributed the questionnaires to nursingstudents and nurses, giving a convenience sampleof 1,587 respondents. Data were entered on theStatistical Package for Social Sciences version 18 andmerged into one large dataset.Results Scottish participants had the highest(positive) and Swedish participants the lowest meanMAQ score. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed significantdifferences in mean scores across the countries in 18 of the 20 statements, even when controlling for ageand experience.Most participants gave positive responses, butagreed that negative attitudes towards working witholder people pervade among peers due to workingconditions, poor career prospects and a perceived lackof professional esteem.Conclusion Inspirational educators, excellent clinicalplacements and increasing the professional esteemof those working with older people are required topromote the specialty as an attractive career option

International Collaboration in Gerontological Nursing.

The world stands on the threshold of a demographic revolution called global aging. We live in a global world where people travel for holidays and work; for some, migration is the only possible alternative to a precarious situation in their own country. Therefore, the older populations in our Western countries no longer have a shared past. To understand, help, and care for older adults from other countries, we need both specific knowledge of the individual as well as general knowledge of his or her country, culture, and family structures. According to the National Institute on Aging (2007), “there is a need to raise awareness about not only global aging issues but also the importance of rigorous cross-national scientific research and policy dialogue that will help us address the challenges and opportunities of an aging world” (p. 1)