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Real engagement improving paramedic attitudes towards the elderly
1Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
The Clinical Teacher
|January 22, 2015
Summary
Paramedic students showed improved attitudes toward elderly patients after an engagement activity. This experience challenged their preconceptions, enhancing awareness for better future patient care.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Paramedic Education
- Healthcare Attitudes
Background:
- Negative attitudes towards elderly patients negatively affect care and outcomes.
- Australia's aging population necessitates increased paramedic interaction with older adults.
- Investigating undergraduate paramedic attitudes and effective teaching strategies is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess undergraduate paramedic students' attitudes towards elderly patients.
- To evaluate the impact of a direct engagement activity on these attitudes.
- To inform pedagogical approaches for enhancing positive attitudes in future paramedics.
Main Methods:
- An engagement activity involving 11 second-year paramedic students and 11 elderly residents.
- Utilized the Aging Semantic Differential (ASD) survey to measure attitudes before and after the activity.
- Conducted focus groups to gather qualitative insights into students' perceptions.
Main Results:
- Students demonstrated improved attitudes towards the elderly in two of three ASD dimensions.
- Focus groups revealed students perceived elderly participants as more independent and capable than initially expected.
- Attitudes regarding elderly inflexibility remained unchanged post-activity.
Conclusions:
- Direct engagement with elderly individuals challenged students' preconceived notions.
- The experience increased awareness, positively influencing future paramedic interactions and care for older patients.
- This highlights the value of experiential learning in shaping healthcare professional attitudes.
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