Attitudes and readiness for the use of technologies in elderly care among nursing students
Keywords:
attitudes, students, elderly care, technologies, artificial intelligenceAbstract
In recent decades, healthcare systems worldwide have faced multiple challenges resulting from population ageing, shortages of qualified medical professionals, and the need for more effective, sustainable, and individualised healthcare. In this context, technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), telemedicine, electronic platforms, and robotic care emerge as key tools for transforming the sector. Aim: To study the attitudes and readiness of nursing students at the Veliko Tarnovo Branch of the Medical University of Varna regarding the use of technologies and AI in elderly care. Materials and Methods: The attitudes and readiness of 53 nursing students were studied through a sociological survey (anonymous questionnaire), with the results presented graphically. Results and Discussion: 83 per cent of respondents believe that technologies can improve the quality of elderly care; 9.5 per cent think they would not, and 7.5 per cent are uncertain. According to the students, the most useful technologies include smart wristbands/watches for monitoring and systems reminding patients to take their medication. Sixty per cent of respondents see multiple advantages in the use of technologies in elderly care, with continuous monitoring ranked as the most important. Conclusion: Future nurses are familiar with emerging technologies for elderly care and believe that these can improve care quality. More than half of the students, however, require additional training in using these technologies. They recommend that their curriculum include a training module focused on emerging technologies and their applications in elderly care.
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