Nursing Students’ Attitudes Towards Individuals With Mental Disabilities: Determinants, Educational Approaches, And Suggestions

Year 2025, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 84 - 91, 30.09.2025

Arzu Dikici , Rabia Özdemir

Abstract

Although individuals with intellectual disabilities are an important group with special needs in the health system, they face various obstacles in accessing health services, resulting from physical, economic, communication related difficulties and prejudicial attitudes of health professionals. The attitudes of nursing students who will frequently interact with these individuals are a critical determinant of the quality of care provided. The aim of this review is to examine the factors influencing nursing students’ attitudes toward individuals with intellectual disabilities, to evaluate current educational approaches, and to offer scientific recommendations for improvement in this field. In this review, recent national and international literature was analyzed by examining published articles, and individual and environmental factors affecting nursing students’ attitudes toward individuals with intellectual disabilities were identified. The findings of the studies examined within the scope of this review reveal that the main factors affecting the attitudes of nursing students are the level of knowledge, previous experiences, the quality and scope of the educational content, communication skills and social prejudices. It is stated that students who have gained more experience and received comprehensive education, especially with individuals with intellectual disabilities, develop more positive and empathic attitudes. To foster more favorable attitudes, nursing curricula should incorporate comprehensive theoretical and practical content as well as experiential learning methods focusing on individuals with intellectual disabilities. Enhancing nursing students’ knowledge and awareness systematically is a critical requirement for improving the quality of care and delivering inclusive healthcare services. Structuring educational programs in this direction will contribute to future nurses being more sensitive and competent.

Keywords

Attitudes , disabilities , education , nursing , students

Hemşirelik Öğrencilerinin Zihinsel Engelli Bireylere Yönelik Tutumları: Belirleyiciler, Eğitimsel Yaklaşımlar Ve Öneriler

Abstract

Zihinsel engelli bireyler, sağlık sisteminde özel gereksinimlere sahip önemli bir grup olmalarına rağmen, sağlık hizmetlerine erişimde fiziksel, ekonomik, iletişimle ilgili zorluklar ve sağlık profesyonellerinin önyargılı tutumlarından kaynaklanan çeşitli engellerle karşılaşmaktadır. Bu bireylerle sıklıkla etkileşimde bulunan hemşirelik öğrencilerinin tutumları, sunulacak bakımın kalitesi
açısından belirleyici bir unsurdur. Bu derleme çalışmasının amacı, hemşirelik öğrencilerinin zihinsel engelli bireylere yönelik tutumlarını etkileyen faktörleri incelemek, mevcut eğitsel yaklaşımları
değerlendirmek ve bu alanda iyileştirmeler yapılmasına yönelik bilimsel öneriler sunmaktır. Bu derleme çalışmasında, güncel ulusal ve uluslararası literatür taranarak yayımlanmış makaleler incelenmiş ve hemşirelik öğrencilerinin zihinsel engelli bireylere yönelik tutumlarını etkileyen bireysel ve çevresel faktörler belirlenmiştir. Bu derleme çalışması kapsamında incelenen çalışmaların bulguları, hemşirelik öğrencilerinin tutumlarını etkileyen temel faktörlerin bilgi düzeyi, önceki deneyimler, eğitim içeriğinin kalitesi ve kapsamı, iletişim becerileri ile toplumsal önyargılar olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Özellikle zihinsel engelli bireylerle daha fazla deneyim kazanmış ve kapsamlı eğitim almış öğrencilerin daha olumlu ve empatik tutumlar geliştirdiği belirtilmektedir. Tutumların olumlu yönde geliştirilmesi için hemşirelik eğitim müfredatlarında zihinsel engelli bireylere yönelik kapsamlı, teorik ve pratik içeriklerin yanı sıra deneyimsel öğrenme yöntemlerine daha fazla yer verilmesi gerekmektedir. Zihinsel engelli bireylere yönelik bakım kalitesini artırmak ve kapsayıcı sağlık hizmetleri sunmak amacıyla, hemşirelik öğrencilerinin bilgi ve farkındalık düzeylerinin sistematik olarak artırılması kritik bir gerekliliktir. Eğitim programlarının bu doğrultuda yapılandırılması, geleceğin hemşirelerinin daha duyarlı ve yetkin olmasına katkı sağlayacaktır.

Keywords

Eğitim , engel , hemşirelik , öğrenci , tutum

Supporting Institution

2209-A Üniversite Öğrencileri Araştırma Projeleri Destekleme Programı 2022 Yılı 2. Dönemi kapsamında 1919B012223032 numaralı proje ile desteklenmiştir.

Thanks

Bu çalışmaya desteğinden dolayı Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu’na (TÜBİTAK) teşekkür ederiz

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