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Reducing Ageism in Nursing Students: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of an Interactive Desktop
Ahmed Dahshan1, Marwa Ibrahim Mahfouz Khalil2, Mohamed Hussein Ramadan Atta2
1Department of Neurology, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Nursing & Health Sciences
|June 16, 2026
Summary
A simulation program improved nursing students' attitudes toward older adult care, reducing ageism and enhancing willingness to work with this population. This educational approach shows promise for gerontological nursing.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nursing Education
- Health Professions Education
Background:
- Ageism and negative attitudes among healthcare professionals can impact the quality of care for older adults.
- There is a need for effective educational strategies to improve nursing students' perceptions and skills in gerontological care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a Gagné's model-based interactive desktop simulation program in reducing ageism and improving nursing students' attitudes toward older adult care.
- To assess the impact of simulation-enhanced instruction on nursing students' willingness to work with older adults and their perspectives on caring for them.
Main Methods:
- A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 nursing students.
- The intervention group (n=60) received eight sessions of a simulation program incorporating Gagné's instructional events, desktop simulations, case discussions, and reflection.
- The control group (n=60) received no intervention. Attitudes were measured using the Willingness to Work with Older Adults (WEPS), Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ), and Perceptions of Care of Older Patients Scale (PCOP-SV).
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in willingness to work with older adults (WEPS), reduced ageist attitudes (FSA), and more positive perspectives on caring for older patients (PCOP-SV) compared to the control group.
- Statistically significant group-by-time interactions were observed for all three outcomes, and these improvements were sustained at follow-up.
- Groups were comparable at baseline across all outcome measures.
Conclusions:
- A simulation-enhanced instructional program based on Gagné's model demonstrates potential for improving attitudinal outcomes in gerontological nursing education.
- This approach may be a valuable tool for preparing future nurses to provide effective and compassionate care to older adults.
- Findings are preliminary due to the pilot design and should be interpreted cautiously.
