Training needs on Geriatric Mental Health Care among the nursing personnel of Primary Health Centre: A Qualitative Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/xq6ev657Keywords:
Nursing Personnel, Training Need, Primary Health CentreAbstract
Background:Geriatric population is at risk of developing mental health disorders. This study explored the experiences and training need of nursing personnel working in Primary Health Center towards geriatric mentalhealth care.
Methods: Phenomenological research design was used. Three numbers of focus group discussion were conducted with a semi structured interview schedule among 15 nurses using purposive sampling technique at selected primary health centers of Sonitpur district of Assam, India. Content analysis was used to analysis focus group interview data.
Results:Data were categorized asthe nurses’ experiences, knowledge and training needs on geriatric mental health care. Educational and skill training needs on geriatric mental health care were identified.
Conclusion: The nurses working in primary health center does notcome across geriatric mental health problemsfrequently. There is a need to train nurses on geriatric mental health care to improve primary health care nurse’s competency in geriatric mental health care.
Keywords: Nursing personnel, Geriatric mental health care, Training need
References
1.World Health Organization. Mental health of older adults. [Internet].Geneva:WHO;2025 Oct 8 [Cited 2023, Aug 12].Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-of-older-adults
2. Gururaj G, Varghese M, Benegal V et al.and NMHS collaborators group. National MentalHealth Survey of India, 2015-16: Mental Health Systems. Bengaluru, National Institute ofMental Health and Neuro Sciences, NIMHANS Publication No. 130, 2016.
Mitike H, Yimam W, Goshiye D et al. Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Associated Factors towards Care of Elderly Patients among Nurses. SAGE Open Nurs. [Internet]. 2023 Feb 27 [cited 2023 June 28]; 9:23779608231159631. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608231159631
Amsalu ET, Messele TA, Adane M. Exploring the effect of professional experience on knowledge towards geriatric care among nurses working in adult care units. BMC Geriatr. [Internet]. 2021 Apr 6 [cited2023 June 23]6;21(1):227. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02156-3
Ogunyemi AO., Balogun MR, Onasanya OO et al. Barriers and Facilitators to the Delivery of Age-friendly Health Services in Primary Health Care Centers in Southwest, Nigeria: A Qualitative Study.MedRxiv [Internet]2023.07.02.23292141. [Cited 2023, Sep 18]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288574
Gulani K.K. Community Health Nursing. 2nd ed. Delhi: Kumar Publishing House; 2018
O'Brien BC, Harris IB, Beckman TJety al. Standards for reporting qualitative research: a synthesis of recommendations. Acad Med. [Internet]. 2014 Sep;[cited 2026 Apr.20];89(9):1245-51.Available from:https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000000388
Girdhar R, Sethi S, Vaid RP, Khurana H. Geriatric mental health problems and services in India: A burning issue. Journal of Geriatric Care and Research [Internet]2019, 6(1): 15-19. [Cited 2026, April 18]. Available from:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333662093_Geriatric_mental_health_problems_and_services_in_India_A_burning_issue
WHO. Abuse of older adults. [Internet].Geneva:WHO;2024 June 15 [Cited 2026, Feb12].Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-of-older-adults
Attafuah PYA, Amertil NP, Abuosi AA et al.Nurses' knowledge and attitude towards care of older patients: A cross-sectional study. Int. J. Afr. Nurs. Sci. [Internet]. 2022 Jan [cited 2023 June 19] 16(100413). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2022.100413
Hu FW, Lee HF, Li YP. Exploration of Geriatric Care Competencies in Registered Nurses in Hospitals. J Nurs Res. [Internet]. 2021 May 25[cited 2023 June 20];29(4). Available from: 10.1097/JNR.0000000000000441
Amsalu ET, Messele TA, Adane M. Exploring the effect of professional experience on knowledge towards geriatric care among nurses working in adult care units. BMC Geriatr. [Internet]. 2021 Apr 6 [cited2023 June 23]6;21(1):227. Available from: DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02156-3
Braude P, Reedy G Dasgupta D et al. Evaluation of a simulation training programme for geriatric medicine. Age Ageing. [Internet]. 2015 May 6 [cited 2023 June 22];44(4) Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afv049
Smith M, Buckwalter KC, Garand L et al. Evaluation of a geriatric mental health training program for nursing personnel in rural long-term care facilities. Issues Ment Health Nurs. [Internet]. 1994 Mar-Apr [cited 2023 June 21];15(2):149-68. doi: 10.3109/01612849409006910.
Abera W, Daba AK, Gebre BB et al. Knowledge and attitude toward geriatric nursing care and associated factors among nurses working at hospitals in Hawassa City, Ethiopia.Front. Med.[Internet]2024 Jun 11: [cited 2026 Apr 21];11:1284845. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1284845.
Upadhyay R, Shakya S, Pahari DP. Attitude of Nurses towards Care of Elderly People in TU Affiliated Teaching Hospitals of Kathmandu Valley. Health Prospect [Internet]. 2020 May 20 [cited 2026 Apr. 21];19(1):7-12. Available from: https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/HPROSPECT/article/view/25556
Khagi BR, Maharjan SA, Bajracharya SL et al. Attitude of Nurses towards Care of Elderly People in Teaching Hospitals of Kathmandu Valley. Birat J. Health Sci. [Internet]. 2020 Sep. 30 [cited 2026 Apr. 21];5(2):1022-6. Available from: https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/bjhs/article/view/31375
Borah R. & Newar P. Effectiveness of Rural Healthcare Centres: An Empirical Study InSonitpur District Of Assam, India. TURCOMAT [Internet].2021Apr.28 [cited 2026 Apr. 21];12(10):7542-8. Available from: https://turcomat.org/index.php/turkbilmat/article/view/5660
Saikia D. & Barman H. Health Workforce in the Rural Public Health Sector in Assam: Current Status and Way Forward. Productivity. 56. 36-46. [Internet]. 2015[cited 2024Jul.7];12(10):7542-8. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272787735_Health_Workforce_in_the_Rural_Public_Health_Sector_in_Assam_Current_Status_and_Way_Forward
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Chitra Bora, Arunjyoti Baruah

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en