認知症サポーターとキャラバンメイトに対するA大学看護学生の認知度と関心度およびその関連要因

Levels of recognition and interest regarding dementia supporters and caravan mates among nursing students at A University and related factors

要旨

　A大学の老年看護学における認知症の基礎教育のあり方への示唆を得ることを目的に、当該大学の看護学生の認知症サポーター（以下，認知症SP）もしくはキャラバンメイト（以下，キャラバンM）の認知度と関心度および関連要因を明らかにした。対象は、東海地方にあるA大学の第1・2・3学年の看護学生204名（回収率83.3％）で、女性94.6％、認知症でない高齢者との同居経験有り51.0％、認知症高齢者との同居経験有り10.3％であった。調査は、20120年6月から7月に無記名自記式質問紙法（留置法）で実施した。その結果、認知症SPやキャラバンMの認知度は9名（4.4％）と低いが、関心度は63.2％であった。関心度に影響する要因は、学年、性別、認知症でない高齢者との同居経験、認知症に対する関心度、高齢者と認知症高齢者に対するイメージ、認知症高齢者への態度が統計的に有意項目として抽出されたことから、認知症高齢者に対するポジティブなイメージと肯定的態度、認知症の知識が高い学生は、認知症SPやキャラバンMに対する関心度が高いことが明らかとなった。また、関心がある理由では、「保健医療専門職を目指す学生として必要」「認知症の人への正しい対応方法を知りたい」「認知症に対する知識を深めたい」が全体の4〜5割を占めた。認知症SPを「知っている又は聞いたことがある」9名が知ったきっかけや場所で最も多かったのは「大学の授業」（6名）であった。以上より、A大学における認知症の基礎教育のあり方を検討した結果、①認知症サポーターやキャラバンメイトの活動実践や意義をイメージ化し、認知度を高めることを目的とした基礎教育の必要性と、②認知症高齢者に対する肯定的なイメージ・態度の育成をはかり、認知症の人を身近な存在として意識できる教育の必要性が示唆された。

Abstract

　In the present study, we elucidated the levels of recognition and interest, and related factors, regarding dementia supporters (hereafter, dementia SP) and caravan mates(hereafter, caravan M) among nursing students at A University with the objective of obtaining suggestions for approaches for basic education on dementia in the gerontological nursing program. Subjects comprised a total of 204 first-, second-, and third-year nursing students in A University(response rate, 83.3%). A total of 94.6% of subjects were women, 51.0% had experience living with an elderly individual who did not have dementia, and 10.3% had experience living with an elderly individual with dementia. A survey was conducted using an anonymous self-reported questionnaire(placement method) in June and July 2012. The results showed that while the level of recognition regarding dementia SP and caravan M was low, at 4.4% (n=9), the level of interest was 63.2%. The following factors significantly affected the level of interest: year; sex; experience living with an elderly individual who did not have dementia; level of interest in dementia; impression of elderly individuals and elderly individuals with dementia; and attitude toward elderly individuals with dementia. These findings showed that students having a positive impression of elderly individuals with dementia and a positive attitude toward them, as well as a high level of knowledge regarding dementia, had high levels of interest regarding dementia SP and caravan M. The following reasons were cited for this high level of interest by 40.50% of the students: "necessary as a university student aiming to become a healthcare professional"; "want to learn the correct methods of providing care for individuals with dementia"; and "want to deepen knowledge of dementia". Among the nine students who "knew or had heard of" dementia SP, "university courses"(n=6)represented the most common means by which they had come to do so. Investigation of approaches for basic education on dementia at A University, as above, suggested the need for the following: 1)Visualization of the implementation and significance of the activities of dementia SP and caravan M, as well as basic education aimed at promoting their recognition; and 2)nurturing of a positive impression of elderly individuals with dementia and a positive attitude toward them, as well as education that enables students to feel close to individuals with dementia.