title: Effects of educational intervention in gerontology on hospital employees' knowledge of and attitudes about the older adult.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a continuing education program in gerontology on knowledge and attitudes of acute care hospital personnel with respect to the older adult. One hundred and sixty-nine acute care hospital personnel completed both the Kogan's Old People Scale and Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz Part 1 and Part 2 before and after participating in the four-session gerontology education program (GEP). The hypothesis was that the GEP would have positive effects on both knowledge of and attitudes toward the elderly. Results suggest that the GEP effectively enhanced the knowledge and attitudes of the participants. The most consistent moderator variable influencing attitude was gender: women were found to have more positive attitudes both before and after the program.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Health Services Administration, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207-7331, USA. macdowel@xavier.xu.edu
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: MacDowell
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Proffitt
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States