title: Impact of an Aging Simulation Game on Pharmacy Students' Empathy for Older Adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate changes in empathy and perceptions as well as game experiences among student pharmacists participating in an aging simulation game.
  
  
  METHODS
  First-year student pharmacists participated in an aging simulation game. Changes were measured pre/post-activity using the Kiersma-Chen Empathy Scale (KCES) and Jefferson Scale of Empathy--Health Professions Scale (JSE-HPS) for empathy and the Aging Simulation Experience Survey (ASES) for perceptions of older adults' experiences and game experiences. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to determine changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred fifty-six student pharmacists completed the instruments. Empathy using the KCES and JSE-HPS improved significantly. Of the 13 items in the ASES, 9 significantly improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simulation games may help students overcome challenges demonstrating empathy and positive attitudes toward elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Cedarville University School of Pharmacy, Cedarville, Ohio.
authors.forename: Aleda M H
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kiersma
authors.affiliation: Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences, West Lafayette, Indiana.
authors.forename: Karen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Yehle
authors.affiliation: Purdue University College of Pharmacy, West Lafayette, Indiana.
authors.forename: Kimberly S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Plake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006281:Health Occupations; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attitudes; empathy; game; geriatrics; pharmacy students