title: Measurement of nurses' attitudes and knowledge regarding acute care older patients: Psychometrics of the OPACS-US combined with the KOP-Q.
abstract: In clinical practice, identifying positive and negative attitudes toward older patients is very important to improve quality of care provided to them. The Older People in Acute Care Survey - United States (OPACS-US) is an instrument measuring hospital nurses attitudes regarding older patients. However, psychometrics have never been assessed. Furthermore, knowledge being related to attitude and behavior should also be measured complementing the OPACS-US. The purpose of this study was to assess structural validity and reliability of the OPACS-US and assess whether the OPACS-US can be complemented with the Knowledge about Older Patients-Quiz (KOP-Q). A multicenter cross sectional design was conducted. Registered nurses (n = 130, mean age 39,9 years; working experience 14,6 years) working in four general hospitals were included in the study. Nurses completed the OPACS-US section A: practice experiences, B: general opinion and the KOP-Q online. Findings demonstrated that the OPACS-US is a valid and reliable survey instrument that measures practice experiences and general opinion. Furthermore, the OPACS-US can be combined with the KOP-Q adding a knowledge construct, and is ready for use within education and/or quality improvement programs in the USA.
authors.affiliation: Research Group Care for the Chronically Ill, Faculty of Health Care, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: jeroen.dikken@hu.nl.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dikken
authors.affiliation: Research Group Care for the Chronically Ill, Faculty of Health Care, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jita G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hoogerduijn
authors.affiliation: WMU Bronson School of Nursing, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, United States.
authors.forename: Mary D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lagerwey
authors.affiliation: Department of Graduate Studies, Lienhard School of Nursing, College of Health Professions, Pace University, New York, United States.
authors.forename: Lillie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shortridge-Baggett
authors.affiliation: Independent Statistician.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klaassen
authors.affiliation: Research Group Care for the Chronically Ill, Faculty of Health Care, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Sciences and Sports, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marieke J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schuurmans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: Attitude; Hospital; KOP-Q; Knowledge; Nurses; OPACS-US; Older patients