Evaluation of an Educational Intervention to Reduce Ageism and Enhance Inclusive Care Among Healthcare Providers: A...

BackgroundAgeism in healthcare is harmful. Theory-based approaches (e.g., Positive Education about Aging and Contact Experiences [PEACE] model), suggest that combining education and meaningful contact can reduce ageist attitudes.ObjectiveThe present study evaluated a half-day educational intervention using lectures and animated videos to reduce healthcare providers' ageist attitudes.MethodsA single-group pre-post design used three lectures and three animated videos. Scores of Attitudes and Thoughts Toward Older People Scale (AT-TOPS) with pre-post changes were analyzed using paired t-tests with associated effect sizes to assess changes in age-related attitudes.ResultsHealthcare providers (n = 61) who completed the course showed significant improvements in AT-TOPS scores (t = 3.03, p = 0.004, d = 0.39). Item-level analyses indicated reduced ageist attitudes about older adults' competence, productivity, family burden, and work suitability.ConclusionThe findings suggested that the intervention produced immediate reductions in institutional and interpersonal ageist attitudes, highlighting short-term attitudinal shifts consistent with PEACE-based mechanisms rather than enduring behavioral change.