The attitudes of nurses in the hospital toward vulnerable people

BACKGROUND: Vulnerable people are often experiencing discrimination in health services. Nurses are the largest number of health personnel and the most frequent in delivering care for these patients. Therefore, the attitude of the nurses may affect the quality of health care. AIM: The objective of the study was to identify nurses’ attitudes toward vulnerable people and its related factors. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study comprising 386 nurses in a main public hospital in Yogyakarta. Data were collected using Google Form utilizing consecutive sampling technique from January 2021 to February 2021. Questionnaires being used were demographic data, knowledge (Self-Administered Questionnaire about Knowledge, Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale, and HIV-Knowledge Questionnaire-18), and attitudes (Attitude Toward Disabled Person Scale Form O, Dementia Attitude Scale, and AIDS Attitude Scale). Data were analyzed using Spearman rank, Mann–Whitney, and Kruskal–Wallis tests. RESULTS: The median of the nurses’ attitudes scores toward people with disabilities (PwDs) was 54 (29–87), toward people with dementia (PWD) was 102 (60–136), and toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) = –0.65 (–1.90– 1.20). Knowledge, history of interaction, and experience in caring have a significant effect on nurses’ attitudes toward vulnerable people (p < 0.05). The education level only affects the attitudes of nurses toward PwDs (p = 0.042). Family history only affects nurses’ attitudes to PWD (p = 0.013). Age and special education/training only affect the attitudes of nurses on PWD and PLWHA (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nurses tend to have positive attitudes toward PWD, but rather negative attitudes against persons with PwDs and PLWHA. Knowledge, caring experience, and interaction are confirmed to have an effect on nurses’ attitudes.