| Associations among Gerontological Nursing Knowledge, Attitudes Toward Ageism, and Therapeutic Communication Competency: A Cross-sectional Online Survey among Outpatient Nurses in General Hospitals |
Sunhee Kim1 
, Heejung Kim2
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1Graduate Student, College of Nursing, Yonsei University · Registered Nurse, Department of Outpatient Nursing, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
2Associate Professor, College of Nursing · Senior Researcher, Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei Evidence Based Nursing Centre of Korea, Institute for Innovation in Digital Healthcare, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea |
Correspondence:
Heejung Kim, Tel: +82-2-2228-3273, Fax: +82-2-2227-8303,
Email: hkim80@yuhs.ac
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Received: 29 October 2024 • Revised: 11 April 2025 • Accepted: 12 June 2025 |
| Abstract |
Purpose
This study aimed to investigate associations of therapeutic communication competency with gerontological nursing knowledge and attitudes toward ageism among outpatient nurses in general hospitals.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey of 137 outpatient nurses was conducted from March 29 to April 11, 2024. Participants were recruited via an online flyer posted in a nationwide nursing community. Data were collected using three validated instruments: Knowledge of Older Patients Quiz, Fraboni Scale of Ageism, and Nursing Assessment of Communication Competency Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA with Scheffé post hoc tests, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.0.
Results
Significant differences in therapeutic communication competency were identified based on marital status (p=.007), engagement in overtime work (p=.006), and longer clinical experience than 10 years (p=.010). Lower levels of ageism were significantly associated with higher competency of therapeutic communication (β=-0.27, p=.001), while gerontological nursing knowledge was not.
Conclusion
Continuous training of anti-ageism attitude may enhance therapeutic communication competency of outpatient nurses with older adults. Leveraging experienced nurses and improving work conditions also support effective communication in outpatient settings. |
| Key Words:
Aged; Nursing care; Knowledge; Ageism; Communication |
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