COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL TEACHING METHODS WITH FILM AND SIMULATION ACTIVITIES TO INFLUENCE ATTITUDES OF STUDENT NURSES TOWARD THE ELDERLY (MEDIATED TEACHING).
Contributors: Temple University.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 91
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Education, Health.
Description: The purpose of this study was to identify an effective method of teaching nursing students about the elderly. This method of teaching would serve two purposes; first, it would address the general health care needs of the elderly, and secondly, it would help the student nurses to develop a positive attitude toward the elderly. A positive attitude toward the elderly is a critical factor in assuring that the elderly person receives the highest quality of health care possible.

The study was conducted during a required course in the Winter Quarter, 1985, in the first year of an associate degree in nursing program at an urban university. A control group time series design was used in the study. The 89 study subjects were all students. The subjects were homogeneous and divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental treatment took place in a classroom setting. The control group received all the material using lecture and discussion teaching techniques. The experimental group received the same material using lecture and discussion that was augmented by aging simulation activities and a film.

The Older Person's Questionnaire was used to measure the subjects' attitude toward the elderly.

The research hypotheses were formulated to provide information on (1) whether student nurse attitudes toward the elderly could be changed, (2) if an attitude change was possible, what teaching techniques would be useful in effecting this change, and (3) the amount of time needed to effect attitude change.

The hypotheses, as stated, were rejected. Secondary analysis of within-group data did provide significant information concerning student nurse attitudes toward the elderly. From this information it was concluded that: (1) The attitudes of student nurses toward the elderly can be changed in a positive direction. (2) Student nurse's attitudes can be changed in a positive direction by using teaching techniques that include lecture/discussion, media depicting normal elderly in their daily activities, and aging simulation activities. (3) Measurable positive attitude change can be seen six weeks after the initial classroom presentations on the elderly, if the teaching techniques listed in conclusion two are used.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-08, Section: B, page: 3295.

Thesis (ED.D.)--TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, 1986.

School code: 0225.