Use of a health screening and education event to change student attitudes toward the elderly.

BACKGROUND: While many schools have incorporated geriatric pharmacy education into their curricula, questions remain as to how these experiences shape student perceptions of the geriatric population. The objective of this study was to assess student comfort levels and perceptions toward the geriatric patient population before and after participation in a single health screening and education event.

METHODS: Student perceptions about the elderly (measured via the Geriatrics Attitude Survey) and comfort levels in caring for geriatric patients were assessed before and after an event.

RESULTS: Twenty-two students completed pre-event and post-event surveys. Students were primarily female (73%), and half were completing their second year of pharmacy school (50%). Global student perceptions of geriatric patients positively changed from baseline following event participation (p = 0.023). Results reveal significant increases from baseline in student comfort levels with communicating, screening, and counseling elderly patients (p < 0.001, 0.01, and 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION: The Geriatrics Attitude Survey is a useful tool in assessing the value of a geriatric experience. Participation in this geriatric experience caused a statistically significant positive change in global perception scores. Additionally, survey results indicate that interactions with geriatric patients at a single event increased student comfort in communication, screening, and counseling.