INTRODUCTION: Implementing person-centered care requires shared attitudes, beliefs, and values among all care employees. Existing research has failed to examine the attitudes of non-nursing employees.
AIM: This study examined attitudes toward aggression among nursing and non-nursing employees to address gaps in existing research and assess readiness for wider adoption of person-centered frameworks.
METHOD: The Management of Aggression in People with Dementia Attitude Questionnaire was used to survey attitudes of employees in Michigan-based nursing homes.
RESULTS: Overall, employees preferred person-centered over standard approaches. Job title was a significant predictor of paradigm support. Frontline employees were found to support person-centered attitudes the least. Wide-ranging responses were noted within employee groups.
DISCUSSION: Job title may influence the degree to which an employee supports and utilizes person-centered approaches. Employees with the most contact with persons with dementia may be the least likely to implement person-centered approaches. In contrast to prior studies, years of experience was not a significant predictor of attitude toward aggressive behavior. Wide-ranging responses indicate that employee attitudes are varied and complex. IMPLICATIONS: Person-centered approaches should be trained within care areas rather than individual employee groups. Programs should be interdisciplinary and seek to establish a shared understanding of person-centered beliefs and values. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.