Caregivers’ attitudes and beliefs about older people’s misuse of alcohol: A hospital questionnaire survey among 315 health workers

Résumé 0

Alcohol misuse is less considered among the elderly, even though it remains prevalent in the ageing population. The apparent neglect of this problem might be due not only to difficulties in screening for it but also due to possible unfavourable carer attitudes. In order to assess the beliefs and attitudes of hospital caregivers towards older people’s’ misusing alcohol and to specify the variables modulating them, a cross-sectional survey, by means of questionnaires, was conducted among 698 nurses and physicians working in eight health facilities around Macon. This questionnaire survey observed their representations, attitudes and knowledge about older people’s’ misuse of alcohol. There were 315 completed questionnaires (response rate: 45%). The feelings declared by the caregivers were categorized as follows: over 75% to listening or availability, 39% to aid or demonstration of skill, 32% to malaise, weakness or avoidance and 7% to aggression, repression or moralizing. The lack of training or lack of time were the only reasons given as possible barriers to the development of appropriate care. Correlations were objectified between positive attitudes and a high level of knowledge, having had a life experience of a familiar person misusing alcohol, or the respondent being an alcohol consumer themself.