Knowledge Attitude and Practice of Geriatric Patients Towards Predictors of Healthy Living at a Tertiary Health Institution in Abuja Nigeria

The main objective of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of the geriatrics towards the predictor of healthy living in a tertiary hospital in Abuja, Nigeria. The study was carried out at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Abuja – Nigeria. A descriptive cross sectional survey of the geriatric patients attending Clinic at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada – Abuja – Nigeria, was carried out. Data was obtained through the use of structured, self-administered questionnaire. Summated scores were used to grade respondents’ knowledge attitudes and practices towards predictors of healthy living. Data analysis was done using the Statistical package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21. Data were presented using descriptive statistics of tables, frequencies, percentages, and pie charts. Inferential statistics of Chi-square was used to test for associations between socio-demographic variables and the knowledge, attitude and practice of geriatric patients towards predictors of healthy living. Out of 319 respondents, 50.5% have good knowledge while 49.5% have poor knowledge towards predictors of healthy living. It was also revealed in the study that a greater proportion of the respondents (52%) have poor attitude towards predictors of healthy living while less than half (48%) have good attitude. It was further discovered that 58.6% of the respondents have poor practice, while only 41.4% have good practice towards predictors of healthy living. Inferentially, Chi-square revealed that there was statistical significant association between marital status and knowledge of the respondents towards predictors of healthy living (P<0.05). Furthermore, the level of education and religion of the respondents was found to have statistical significant association with their attitude towards predictors of healthy living (P <0.05) and there was statistical significant association between the educational level and religion of the geriatric patients and their practice towards predictor of healthy living (P <0.05). There is a need for action from all concerned stakeholders to improve the KAP of the geriatric population towards predictors of healthy living. Suggested recommendations among others are; that government should enact enabling laws that will promote geriatrics’ healthy living, improve the community awareness on the predictors of healthy living among geriatrics through health promotions and provide qualitative education and training/retraining courses for health workers to improve their knowledge on geriatrics