Amaç: Bu çalışma, aile sağlığı merkezlerinde çalışan sağlık profesyonellerinin yaşlı istismarı ile karşılaşma durumlarını ve ilişkili faktörleri belirlenmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Kesitsel türde olan araştırma, Çanakkale ilinde yer alan aile sağlığı merkezlerinde çalışan 122 sağlık profesyoneli ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler, literatür doğrultusunda oluşturulan anket formu aracılığıyla Kasım 2020-Kasım 2021 tarihleri arasında, çevrim içi ve yüz yüze görüşme yöntemleriyle toplanmıştır. Verilerin değerlendirilmesinde tanımlayıcı istatistiksel yöntemler ve ki-kare analizi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Sağlık profesyonellerinin %23'ünün (n=28) yaşlı istismarı olgusuyla karşılaştığı, en sık istismarla karşılaşan meslek grubunun aile hekimleri olduğu (%53,6; n=15), karşılaşılan istismar vakalarının yalnızca %15,2'sinin (n=5) kolluk kuvvetlere bildirildiği belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca çalışmaya katılanların %25,4'ünün (n=31) yaşlı istismarı vakasından şüphelendiği, %36,4'ünün (n=16) yaşlının bakımsız olması nedeniyle şüphelendiği, %9,5'inin (n=4) kolluk kuvvetlere bildirimde bulunduğu saptanmıştır. Yaşlı istismarı ile karşılaşma durumu ile yaş, mesleki deneyim, meslek ve yaşlının istismar yönünden değerlendirilmesi gerektiğini düşünme arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu belirlenmiştir (p<0,05). Sonuç: Bu çalışmanın sonuçlarında yaklaşık her dört sağlık çalışanından birinin yaşlı istismarı olgusuyla karşılaştığı, ancak bunların çok azının bildiriminin yapıldığı görülmüştür. Bu nedenle 1. basamakta çalışan sağlık profesyonellerine yönelik yaşlı istismarı konusu ile ilgili hizmet içi eğitimler düzenlenmesi, yaşlıların aile sağlığı merkezlerinde veya evlerinde belirli aralıklarla istismar yönünden değerlendirilmesi, sağlık profesyonellerine eğitim müdahalesinin etkisini gösteren araştırmalar yapılması önerilebilir.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Yaşlı; istismar; yaşlı istismarı; sağlık çalışanı; aile sağlığı merkezi
Objective: This study was carried out to determine the experiences of health professionals working in family health centers with the abuse of older adults and related factors. Material and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted with 122 health professionals working in family health centers in Çanakkale. The data were collected by online and face-to-face interview methods between November 2020-November 2021 through a questionnaire created in line with the literature. Descriptive statistical methods and chi-square analysis were used to evaluate the data. Results: 23% of health professionals (n=28) encountered abuse of older adults, the most frequently abused occupational group was family physicians (53.6%; n=15), and only 15.2% (n=5) of abuse cases has been reported to law enforcement. In addition, 25.4% (n=31) of the participants in the study suspected abuse of the older people, 36.4% (n=16) suspected the older people due to lack of care, 9.5% (n=4) reported to law enforcement. In addition, it was determined that there was a statistically significant relationship between the situation of encountering abuse of the older people and age, professional experience, occupation and thinking that the older people should be evaluated in terms of abuse (p<0.05). Conclusion: In the results of this study, it was seen that approximately one out of every 4 healthcare workers faced the phenomenon of the abuse of older adults, but very few of them were reported. For this reason, it can be recommended to organize in-service trainings on the abuse of older adults for health professionals working in primary care, to evaluate the older people in terms of abuse at regular intervals in family health centers or at home, and to conduct research showing the effect of educational intervention on health professionals.
Keywords: Older; abuse; abuse of older adults; healthcare professional; family health center
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