The Effect of Experiential Ageing Simulation on the Attitudes Toward Older People Among Senior Nursing Students

Abstract

Considering the Philippines’ aging population, positive attitudes toward older people and senior sensitivity are essential for nurses. However, international studies showed that nursing students have unfavorable attitudes toward older people. Little is known about this in the Philippine setting. This study aims to determine the effect of experiential ageing simulation on the attitudes (on the Responding level of Bloom’s Affective taxonomy) toward older people among 4th-year nursing students in a Philippine setting; and to determine if age, sex, and experience in elderly care are factors affecting their attitudes. Quasi-Experimental, One-group Pretest-Posttest design was utilized for this study on 51 graduating nursing students. The students attended a 4-hour ageing simulation seminar workshop that provided knowledge and firsthand experience on common challenges of older people through wearing sensory simulators that mimic age-related changes. Before and after the intervention, the students accomplished Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Older People (KATOP) Scale and Work Preference Ranking Form. The data were analyzed using paired t-test, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA using Jamovi 2.2 software. The results revealed a significant difference in the attitudes toward older people of nursing students before and after the intervention (p-value <0.001 and a Cohen’s d of 0.978). Additionally, the results of work preference ranking showed an extreme shift in their preference for elderly care after the intervention. It was also determined that age, sex, and experience in elderly care are not significant factors in the students' attitudes. Based on these, experiential ageing simulation has improved the attitudes toward older people of graduating nursing students. Adopting experiential ageing simulation in schools and other institutions may help prepare students to be more senior-sensitive in facing the country’s aging population.