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.