title: Learning with older people--Outcomes of a quasi-experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nursing students' interest in older people nursing needs to be enhanced, as there is a demand for competent nurses who prefer to work in older people nursing. Educational approaches involving older people are encouraging; they increase positive learning outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of the Learning with Older People Programme (LOPP) in terms of nursing students' interest in older people nursing, their attitudes towards older people and their knowledge level about ageing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental, pre-post-test design with non-equivalent comparison group was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two different Finnish nursing schools geographically apart from each other.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nonprobability, convenience sample of nursing students (n=87; n=46 in the intervention group, n=41 in the comparison group) in the middle of their 3.5 year bachelor degree studies and enrolled in compulsory theoretical older people nursing courses participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected in 2014 using a structured questionnaire that included background questions, students' interest in older people nursing as a primary outcome measure and their attitudes towards older people and knowledge level about ageing as secondary outcome measures. The data were analysed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the intervention group, students' interest in older people nursing was significantly higher and their attitudes towards older people were more positive than those of students in the comparison group. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the students' knowledge level about ageing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An educational approach involving older people resulted in encouraging outcomes. It is worth considering whether or not older people could be a valuable resource for nursing education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, FI-20014 University of Turku, Finland. Electronic address: smtkos@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koskinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, FI-20014 University of Turku, Finland. Electronic address: leesalmi@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Box 57, FI-20521 Turku, Finland. Electronic address: pauli.puukka@thl.fi.
authors.forename: Pauli
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puukka
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, FI-20014 University of Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. Electronic address: heleiki@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leino-Kilpi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D013338:Students, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Attitude; Career; Knowledge; Nursing students; Older people; Quasi-experimental design