Background: Old age–based discrimination is observed as the most tolerated prejudice in society and has also been witnessed in healthcare institutions. Aims: The aim of this study is to explore age-based discrimination in healthcare institutions as perceived by seniors and students of Medicine and Nursing. Research design: A multi-method study design, by involving a triangulation design. Participants and research context: A purposeful sample of individuals aged 65+ (n = 80) and medical and nursing students (n = 100) in the eastern region of Poland. Ethical considerations: Ethical approval of the research protocol was received from the Ethics Committee at the Medical University of Lublin. Findings: ‘Old age’ was perceived by groups of participants based on three themes: (a) positive, (b) negative and (c) neutral connotations. The negative connotations predominated. The beginning of old age was defined by the metric of age and described by showing the complexity of the ageing process involving subjective, objective and societal aspects. Experience of age discrimination in healthcare institutions was reported by 24 (30%) seniors and witnessed by 47 (47%) students surveyed and for both groups occurred mainly at the hospital level and by physicians. Only 48 students (48%) declared a willingness to work with the older people in the future, and barriers were reported at the personal and professional levels, and also in some visions of older people. Conclusion: The conceptualization of old age as reported by seniors and students mainly carried negative connotations, reflecting the profoundly based stereotypes within society regarding the older people. Seniors have reported being exposed to ageism and have witnessed ageism episodes in HCIs; also, students have faced ageism episodes during their clinical education. There is a need for ethical education within medical and nursing courses to shape positive attitudes towards the older people. A positive vision of ageing should be promoted not only among young people but also among adults and older people to avoid self-stereotyping of older people and seeing old age from negative perspective.

Although previous quantitative studies provide important information on the factors which influence the choice of nursing as a career, qualitative analysis makes it possible to study the subject more thoroughly. The purpose of this study was to conduct an in-depth analysis of the reasons why Polish students choose nursing as a profession and their later perception of the job based on experiences acquired during the nursing course. A qualitative descriptive study was designed. We organized 8 focus group discussions with third-year nursing students. A total of 76 students participated in the study. Several reasons why students had chosen the nursing profession were identified: desire to help others, family tradition, desire to work abroad, failure to get into another course, pure chance, and low admission requirements (relative to medical studies). The participants’ views of the nursing profession were based on their own personal experiences or observations of nurses at work. Often these observations were superficial, concerning only selected fragments of nursing work. The participants also identified reasons for there being low regard for the nursing profession. The decision about choosing nursing is mainly determined by practical aspects, e.g., the opportunity for employment. Although young people are aware of the low prestige of the nursing profession in Poland, they believe it is possible to improve its image and enhance its prestige.

Patient satisfaction with nursing care is one of important indicators of health care quality. As for pain, it is an indicator of patient health. The goal of the study is to identify socio-demographic and medical factors that differentiate the assessment of satisfaction with nursing care of hospitalized patients. The study involved performing a diagnostic survey using standardized instruments, i.e. the Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale (NSNS) and the Visual Analog Scale by Barbara J. Headley for pain scoring. The study included 205 patients hospitalized for lumbar pain syndrome on two neurosurgery wards in Poland. The mean patient age was 51 years. Most respondents declared having high school or vocational education. The mean time of hospitalization before the study was 2 days. The results demonstrated that patient satisfaction with nursing care is independent of patient age, education, duration of hospitalization, or number of hospitalizations. In contrast, the experience of nursing care is dependent on education, and less educated patients (primary or vocational education) had higher scores in this category. With regards to pain, it was perceived as more intense by women and by patients hospitalized for a shorter period of time. Satisfaction with nursing care among patients with lumbar pain syndrome does not depend on socio-demographic or medical variables. Experience of nursing care depends on patient's education.