Abstract
The purposes of this study were to investigate nursing students' Knowledge, attitudes and behavior toward the elderly and to identify the predictors of nursing student's knowledge, attitudes and behavior toward the elderly. The data were collected from 513 nursing students enrolled in ADN(Associate Degree in Nursing) program in Daegu by using structured questionnaire. The research producted following results: 1) The average score of the participants' knowledge of the elderly was $12.3{\pm}2.7$ out of 25. The average attitude score was $86{\pm}11.7$ out of 140. This score was classified as a neural range. The average behavior score was $57.5{\pm}6.9$ out of 68. 2) Among general characteristic of the participants level of knowledge was statistically significant for age, religion, educational level. 3) Participants' knowledge toward the elderly was difference significantly present not living conditions, the degree of preference for offering the nursing care of the elderly. 4) Participants' attitude toward the elderly were statistically the significant difference in the degree of the familiar interaction with the elderly, the interest in the elderly and problems of the aged. 5) Participants' behavior toward the elderly were statistically the significant difference in the degree of a current relationship with the elderly, the familiar interaction with the elderly. 6) The correlation, coefficients of participants' knowledge, attitude and behavior toward the elderly were positively correlated. In conclusion, It is necessary to develop a program for continuous teaching and education that will help increase student nurse's knowledge of the elderly and thereby positively change attitude and behavior toward the elderly.
