THE OPERATIONAL USE OF CULTURE

The researchers will utilize the theory of reasoned action developed by Ajzen and
Fishbein (1980). The theory explains how a persons intention behaves in a certain way. It also
predicts that behavioural intent is created or affected by two factors: attitudes and subjective
norms.
An attitude is a persons opinion about whether behaviour is positive or negative and it
has two components: the beliefs about the outcome of the behaviour and the evaluation of the
potential outcome. The second factor affecting behavioural intent is subjective norm. Subjective
norm is what other person thinks or believes of expected action towards an individual and can be
influenced by the people around which may include friends or a peer group, family, co-workers,
staff nurses, and clinical instructors. It has two components: normative beliefs (what you think
others would want or expect you to do) and motivation to comply (how important it is with you
to do what you think others expect).
Attitudes are a function of noticeable behavioural beliefs, which represent perceived
attributes of the behaviour (Conner & Armitage, 2006). The behavioural purposes are predictive
of actual execution of behaviour such that if you have intention to act then therefore you are
possible to perform the subsequent behaviour. In relation to the study, the student nurses attitude
can influence the resulting behaviour in caring older people. Moreover, Mckinlay and Cowan
(2003) emphasized that the intention of nursing students to work with older people is mainly
predicted by their attitudes.
The understanding of 4th year student nurses on the impact of global health issues, such as
the aging population, can influence their awareness and attitude towards addressing global health
strategies in caring for the older people. The demands of an aging population heightens the
expectations, acting as normative beliefs, from 4th year students to be competent and to possess
appropriate attitude towards caring older people.
In the same manner, culture and sexes also serves as a behavioural belief that can
influence the attitudes of 4th year student nurses. These attributes can provide the basis for the
formation of attitudes of an individual. The culture is an important factor that develops student
nurses professional values (Alfred, 2013). Parandeh, Khaghanizad, Mohammadi and Nouri
(2014) also pointed that personal values can be developed by being influenced by culture and the
society. Culture refers to a set of shared values, belief, assumptions, and practices that shape and
guide members attitudes and behaviour (Wilson, 2001). Alfred (2013) further emphasized that
the difference of some of professional values components were because of culture. Similarly,
Gonen, Sharon, Lev-Ari, Strauss, and Segev (2015) stressed that culture may influence nursing
students attitudes. Sexes can also influence attitudes of student nurses (Bartfay, Bartfay, Clow,
and Wu, (2007). Many studies have beheld at the role of female nurses and the results are still
generalizable because they are the mainstream of informal care providers and one reason is that
they tend to express nurturing compassion and a positive attitude, while male tends to express
fierce compassion (Bartfay, et al., 2007). The impact of variations in sex and culture,

therefore, appears to be essential in understanding the attitude of student nurses towards caring
for older people.