Taiwanese medical and nursing student interest levels in and attitudes towards geriatrics.
BACKGROUND
To investigate the attitudes of medical and nursing student towards the older Chinese population.


METHODS
A reliable and valid Chinese language version of Kogan's Attitudes toward Older People (KAOP) with 17 matched item pairs (34 items) was completed by 275 medical and nursing students. Descriptive data analysis was employed.


RESULTS
Participants reported slightly to have a more positive attitudes (Mean, 144.30 +/- 17.89) than those reported from studies in other countries (Jordanian: Mean, 110.6 +/- 21.79). Students who were females (Mean, 148.27 +/- 18.97), younger (Mean, 146.01 +/- 18.59) and studying nursing (Mean, 156.86 +/- 17.56) were more likely to have a more positive attitudes than older (Mean, 140.04 +/- 15.31), males (Mean, 140.47 +/- 15.93), studying medicine (Mean, 138.77 +/- 15.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Results show that students may have greater ambivalence attitudes on 10 out of 17 matched item pairs which provides useful information for faculty involved in aged care curriculum design. Working as a volunteer in the university hospital may increase students' interactions with the elderly and may positively influence attitudes towards the elderly.
Wang
Cheng Ching
CC
National Project for Excellence in Geriatric Care Education, Chung Shan Medical University (CSMU), Taiwan.
Liao
Wen Chun
WC
Kao
Min Chen
MC
Chen
Yu Ju
YJ
Lee
Meng Chih
MC
Lee
Mei Fen
MF
Yen
Chi Hua
CH
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan