Teaching Poverty: Evaluation of Two Simulated Poverty Teaching Interventions With Undergraduate Nursing Students

The study aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of two simulated poverty teaching interventions-the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) and the Oxfam Hunger Banquet-to improve undergraduate nursing student attitudes toward people living in poverty.

Freshman and sophomore nursing students participated in a Missouri Community Action Network CAPS^® experience or an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet^® during a 3-year period, and completed pre- and post-assessments using the Undergraduate Perceptions of Poverty Tracking Survey (UPPTS).

A significant improvement in UPPTS scores was seen in students after participating in a CAPS experience and less of an improvement was noted after participating in a Hunger Banquet.

Both simulated poverty teaching interventions had positive effects on the students' perceptions toward people living in poverty, but the CAPS had a greater influence on improving student attitudes. [J Nurs Educ. 2020;59(2):83-87.].