Nursing Practitioners’ Knowledge and Attitude of Dementia and Their Ability to Cope with Behavioral Problems on Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study in Taiwan

This study examined the relationship between nursing staff's knowledge and attitudes toward dementia caregiving and their proficiency in managing dementia-related behavioral issues. We conducted a cross-sectional correlational study involving 198 nursing participants with a minimum of three months of clinical nursing experience in central Taiwan. The findings indicate that nursing staff scored well in dementia care knowledge (11.71 ± 1.67), dementia nursing attitudes (29.35 ± 2.73), and their ability to address dementia-related behavioral issues (63.90 ± 11.33). Statistical analysis demonstrates that various factors influenced the nursing staff's ability to address behavioral issues, with past experience in caring for a family member with dementia, a nursing progression designation of N1/N2, certification in a professional dementia care program in long-term care, and positive attitudes toward dementia-related issues as significant predictors. Accumulating experience and knowledge, along with cultivating positive attitudes, can enhance nursing staff's capacity to manage behavioral challenges in dementia care. This study underscores the need for continuous training and education for nursing staff, focusing on dementia care, to improve behavioral health outcomes. It emphasizes the importance of supporting family caregivers and promoting specialized certification programs, along with implementing quality improvement measures, to enhance dementia care and patient outcomes in clinical practice.