title: Effect of service-learning on knowledge about older people and faculty teaching evaluations in a physical therapy class.
abstract: The major purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge, misconceptions, and bias regarding aging among graduate physical therapy students and to determine whether service-learning modified any of these variables. A cohort of 40 students in a graduate physical therapy program was randomly divided into an experimental (service-learning) or control (no service-learning) group. General knowledge and attitudes about aging were measured by Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz I. The Wilson Student Evaluation of Faculty tool measured student evaluations of a faculty member at the end of the semester. Two-way analyses of variance with repeated measures revealed that all students increased their knowledge about aging, p < .05. However, students who initially had negative attitudes toward older adults significantly improved their attitudes only after the service-learning experience, p < .05. A t-test revealed that teaching evaluation scores were significantly lower in the service-learning course, p < .05. The results suggest that service-learning effectively enhanced both the knowledge and attitudes of physical therapy students toward the older adult. Although service-learning imparted better learning for the student, there was some risk to the faculty member as evidenced by lower teaching evaluations.
authors.affiliation: California State University, Department of Physical Therapy, Northridge, CA 91330, USA. janna.beling@csun.edu
authors.forename: Janna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002140:California; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005178:Faculty / Q000592:standards*; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008875:Middle Aged; D009341:Negativism; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000193:education*; D011287:Prejudice; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload