A national cross-sectional study of community nurses and social workers knowledge of self-neglect.

BACKGROUND self-neglect (SN) is a global health and social problem affecting societies, which is largely hidden, under-reported and underresearched. Community nurses (CNs) and social workers (SWs) need to be knowledgeable about SN. OBJECTIVE to determine CNs and SWs sources and level of SN knowledge. METHODS quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional. SUBJECTS CNs and SWs working in the community with older people at risk of SN. SETTINGS participants were recruited from four Health Service Executive (HSE) areas in Ireland. INSTRUMENT a questionnaire was developed to elicit levels and sources of SN knowledge. A postal survey was used. RESULTS of the 566 questionnaires posted, 339 responded (Nurses (N) N = 305; SWs N = 34), a 60% response. SWs had statistically higher knowledge scores (P = 0.002), and difference in average scores between CNs and SWs was statistically significant (P = 0.037). There was a statistically significant difference between practice and personal experience (P = 0.44), and use of literature/books (P = 0.037) between CNs and SWs, with SWs using both sources more. Higher knowledge scores were significantly associated with number of SN cases, higher education and gender. CONCLUSION there is a need for interdisciplinary training on SN.