Levels of communication rendered by health workers as perceived by the elderly residents in selected elderly institutions

Date of Completion

2001

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Keywords

Communication, Health Personnel, Aged, Homes for the Aged

Abstract

The researchers used a non-experimental descriptive type of study. 100 elderly residents from Tahanan ni Maria (Carmona, Cavite) and Golden Acres (Quezon City) were selected as the respondents of this study. The research instrument utilized was a 16-item questionnaire developed by the researchers for data gathering purposes. Percentage, Mean, t-test, and F-test were used for the statistical analysis of data. The following findings of the data were drawn: 1.) among the 100 elderly residents, 56% are female and 44% are male. Most of them belonged to the young old age group with age ranging from 60-75 years old (54%). There were more literate (59%) elderly residents than illiterate (41%). Most of them are Tagalog (71%). Majority of the elderly residents had stayed in the institution for a period of 1-4 years (45%), and most of them (33%) had stayed in the institution because of lack of social support; 2.) Health workers rendered good verbal communication to elderly residents from selected elderly institutions as indicated by the overall mean of 1.00. This means that the communication process in verbal mode are rendered by the health workers most of the time. Moreover, it showed a positive indication that health workers rendered good verbal communication to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions; 3.) Health workers rendered good non-verbal communication to elderly residents from selected elderly institutions as indicated by an overall mean of 1.01. This means that the communication process in non-verbal mode are rendered by the health workers most of the time. This also showed a positive indication that health workers good non-verbal communication to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions; 4.) There is no significant difference in the levels of verbal communication rendered by health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to age since the computed F-ratio of 1.5346 is lesser than the tabular F-value 3.09 using 2 and 97 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level; 5.) There is no significant difference in the levels of verbal communication rendered by health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to gender since the computed t-ratio of /-1.06/ is lesser than the tabular t-value of 1.96 using 98 and 55 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level; 6.) There is no significant difference in the levels of verbal communication rendered by health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to literacy since the computed t-ratio of 0.66 is lesser than the tabular t-value of 1.96 using 98 and 97.97 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level; 7.) There is no significant difference in the levels of verbal communication rendered by health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to ethnic affiliation since the computed t-ratio of 0.18 is lesser than the tabular t-value of 1.96 using 98 and 56.50 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level; 8.) There is no significant difference in the levels of verbal communication rendered by health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to length of stay since the computed F-ratio of 0.2658 is lesser than the tabular F-value of 2.30 using 5 and 95 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level; 9.) There is no significant difference in the levels of verbal communication rendered by health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to reasons of stay since the computed F-ratio of 1.5516 is lesser than the tabular F-value of 2.30 using 5 and 94 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level; 10.) There is a significant difference in the levels of non-verbal communication rendered by health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to age since the computed F-ratio of 3.3426 is greater than the tabular F-value of 3.09 using 2 and 97 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level. The old-old age group showed a significant difference in the levels of non-verbal mode of communication, since the elderly belonging to this age group have poorer understanding of verbal communication and because of some degenerative conditions brought about by old age such as hearing impairment and cognitive loss. Therefore, it is easier for the elderly belonging to the old-old age group to understand non-verbal communication which is in form of cues. In this way the health workers find it easier to render non-verbal communication to elderly residents from selected elderly institutions; 11.) There is no significant difference in the levels of non-verbal communication rendered by health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to gender since the computed t- ratio of /-0.41/ is lesser than the tabular t-value of 1.96 using 98 and 95.60 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level; 12) There is no significant difference in the levels of non-verbal communication rendered by health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to literacy level. Since the computed t-ratio of 1.136 is lesser than the tabular t-value of 1.96 using 98 and 68.89 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level; 13) There is no significant difference in the levels of non-verbal communication rendered by health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to ethnic affiliation. Since the computed t-ratio of 0.75 is lesser than the tabular t-value of 1.96 using 98 and 95.90 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level; 14) There is no significant differences in the levels of non-verbal communications rendered b health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to length of stay. Since the computed F-ration of 1.3120 is lesser than the tabular F-value of 2.30 using 5 and 94 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level; 15) There is a significant difference in the levels of non-verbal communication rendered by health workers to elderly residents in selected elderly institutions when they are grouped according to reasons of stay. Since the computed F-ration of 5.5227 is greater than the tabular F-value of 2.30 using 5 and 94 degrees of freedom at 0.5 level. Reasons of stay have also been significant to the levels of non-verbal communication, since health workers render non-verbal communication more often in elderlies referred from other institutions since elderly residents may not be comfortable and are still adjusting to the setting in which verbal communication is limited. In this process, health workers tend to utilize non-verbal cues first to order to establish an open line of communication.

Comments

Call Number: TH NM 01 13

Location: Research Commons

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