The effects of a well older adult clinical experience on students' knowledge and attitudes

Is a planned learning experience with well older adults a positive influence on a nursing student's attitude, level of gerontological knowledge, and willingness to work with older adults after graduation? Students in a baccalaureate program were divided into treatment or control groups based on their attitudes on the Kogan's Attitude Toward Old People Scale. Knowledge was measured by the Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz (Palmore, 1977). Half of the students were given experiences with well elderly while the other group had no experience with this population. Differences in pre- and post-test scores were compared by analysis of variance. All students, regardless of planned experience with older adults, increased their knowledge. Students who initially had negative attitudes significantly improved their attitudes regardless of the type of clinical experience. The investigation failed to support the idea that experiences with well elderly would make a difference on attitude and knowledge base. This project suggests knowledge and attitude changes are not dependent upon a particular type of clinical learning activity.