title: Late-life mental health education for workforce development: brain versus heart?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a shortage of mental health professionals to care for a growing geriatric population. Though not mutually exclusive, clinical and didactic educational experiences promote cognition, whereas affective knowledge (attitude) is promoted through nonclinical exposure to seniors. This study evaluates the relative impact of cognition and attitude on career interests among healthcare students.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed 13 interactive, video documentary "lessons" on late-life mental health presenting didactic material along with stories of actual patients and families. Four of these lessons were viewed at 1-week intervals by 42 students from medical school and graduate programs of social work, psychology, and nursing. Knowledge, attitudes, and inclinations toward working with seniors were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both cognition and attitudes toward seniors improved. Linear regression shows that change in attitude, not cognition, predicts interest in working with seniors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educational experiences that promote affective learning may enhance interest in geriatric careers among healthcare students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA; Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: rosenji@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Jules
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stiehl
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hennon
authors.forename: Dilip
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jeste
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000193:education*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Geriatric education; late-life mental health education; workforce development