title: Pharmacy students' attitudes toward geriatric nursing home patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the attitudes of second-year pharmacy students toward older people in general and geriatric patients in particular after attending an Early Pharmacy Practice Experiences 2 course.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-four second-year pharmacy students completed the Geriatrics Knowledge Test and Attitudes Survey between 2008 and 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On 11 of 14 items, most students had a favorable opinion of older people and providing geriatric care (mean > 3.0 on a 5-point scale). For example, students believed that treatment of chronically ill elderly patients is not hopeless ( 4.2 ± 1.0) and that most older people are pleasant to be with ( 3.8 ± 1.0). Gender, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, having children, and rural or non-rural upbringing were not related to the students' attitudes for most items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the majority of second-year pharmacy students had favorable attitudes toward older people and geriatric care, the lack of research in this area suggests that further studies are needed.
authors: Appalachian College of Pharmacy, Oakwood, VA 24631, USA.
authors: Donna M
authors: DM
authors: Adkins
authors: Susan L
authors: SL
authors: Mayhew
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Gavaza
authors: Shams
authors: S
authors: Rahman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult