The validity and reliability of Kogan’s attitude towards old people scale in the Turkish society

Dilek Kiliç, Derya Adibelli
DOI: 10.4236/health.2011.39101                

Abstract

This study was conducted methodologically in order to determine the validity and reliability of Kogan’s Attitude towards Old People Scale after being adapted to the Turkish Society. 145 female students, attending the 4th and 5th year of the faculty of Medical Sciences at Atatürk University, and 118 nurses, working at Ataturk University Aziziye-Yakutiye Research Hospitals, were in-cluded in the study. The sample group was chosen from the population using a non-probability convenience sampling method. A form containing demographic characteristics of nurses and nursing students, and the Turkish version of Kogan’s Attitude towards Old People Scale were used to gather the required data. Data was analysed using the t-test, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, correlation, and factor analyses. In the study, Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability Coefficient for Kogan’s Attitude towards Old People Scale was 0.81, and the scale comprised of one factor. The attitude of working nurses towards old people was more positive in comparison to the attitude of student nurses. After analysis, the scale was deemed highly valid and reliable, and suitable to be used for Turkish society. The scale may be used in studies to evaluative attitude toward old people and quality of the care offered to older people.

Keywords

Older People; Attitude; Validity; Reliability; Nursing

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Population Reference Bureau, World Population Data Sheet (2011). http://www.prb.org/pdf10/10wpds_eng.pdf
[2]	Turkish Statistical Institute (2011) The Database of an address-based population registry system; population according to age group and gender. http://tuikapp.tuik.gov.tr/adnksdagitapp/adnks.zul.pdf
[3]	Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies (2009) A Turkish Population and Health Study 2008, Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies, Ministry of Health Maternal and Infant Health and Family Planning Directorate, Prime Ministry State Planning Secretariat, and TüBITAK, Ankara.
[4]	Ak?n, B., Sevi?, ü. and Karata?, N. (2001) Gerontology nursing training in Turkey. A study to develop a certificate-based program. Cumhuriyet University HYO Journal, 5, 33-39.
[5]	Burns, R. and Nickols, L.O. (2000) Interdisiplinary geriatric primary care evaluation and management: Two-year outcomes. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 48, 8-13.
[6]	Caplan, G.A., Williams, A.J. and Abraham, K. (2004) A Randomized control trial of comprehensive geriatric assesment and multidisiplinary intervention after discharge of elderly from the emergency department. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 52, 1417-1423. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52401.x
[7]	Akdemir, N., ??nar, F.?. and G?rgülü, ü. (2007) Perceiving old age and geriatric discrimination. Turkish Journal of Geriatrics, 10, 215-222.
[8]	?z, F. (2002) The last stage of life, reviewing old age from a psychosocial point of view. Crisis Journal, 10, 17-28.
[9]	Brower, T. (1985) Do nurses stereotype the aged? Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 11, 17-28.
[10]	Lookinland, S., Linton, C.P. and Lavender, C. (2002) African-American nurses attitudes toward older persons. The Journal of National Black Nurses Association, 13, 6-14.
[11]	Mellor, P., Chew, D. and Greenhill, J. (2007) Nurses attitudes toward elderly people and knowledge of gerontic care in a multipurpose health service. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 24, 37-41.
[12]	Kogan, N. (1961) Attitudes toward old people: The development of a scale and an examination of correlations. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 62, 44-54. doi:10.1037/h0048053
[13]	Tezba?aran, A. (1996) The guide to developing Likert- type scales. The Association of Turkish Psychologists Publications, ?zyurt Matbaas?, Ankara, 45-51.
[14]	?zgüven, I.E. (1998) Psychological tests. Nobel Yay?nc?l?k, Ankara, 83-108.
[15]	Büyük?ztürk, ?. (2006) The data analysis handbook for social sciences. Pegem Yay?nc?l?k, Ankara.
[16]	G?züm, S. and Aksayan, S. (2002) Guide II for inter-culture scale adaptations: Pyschometric characteristics and intercultural comparisons. Nursing Research and Development Magazine, 4, 9-20.
[17]	Erefe, ?. (2002). Nursing study principles, procedures, and methods. Odak Ofset, ?stanbul, 172-173.
[18]	Akgül, A. (2003) Statistical Analysis Techniques used in Medical Studies. 2nd Edition, Emek Ofset Ltd. ?ti., Ankara.
[19]	Aksako?lu, G. (2001) Study Techniques in health, and analysis methods. Dokuz Eylül University Rekt?rlük Matbaas?, ?zmir.
[20]	Tav?anc?l, E. (2002) Measuring attitudes and data analysis using SPSS. Nobel Yay?n Da??t?m, Ankara.
[21]	Schoen, D. (1993) Nursing students attitudes after an experience with independent elderly. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 14, 47-55.
[22]	Gallagher, S., Bennett, K.M. and Halford, J.C.G. (2006) A. Comparison of acute and long term health care personel’s attitudes toward older adults. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 12, 273-279. doi:10.1111/j.1440-172X.2006.00582.x
[23]	Hilt, M. (1997) Television news and the elderly persons; Broadcast managers’ attitudes toward older adults. New York, Garland.
[24]	S?derhamn, O., Lindencrona, C. and Gustavsson, S.M. (2001) Attitudes toward older people among nursing students and registered nurses in Sweden. Nurse Education Today, 21, 225-229.