A pilot study to reduce ageism in pre-health students: An education module coupled with an immersion experience

Abstract

A competent, confident workforce is central to managing health for the growing population of older adults. However, ageist myths and stereotypes are still prevalent among students in higher education. The purpose of this pilot study was to encourage a reduction in ageist attitudes among undergraduate pre-health students, with the hope of encouraging them toward careers in aging. The intervention included in-class education that covered who older adults are, ageist beliefs and stereotypes, strategies for combating ageism, and an introduction to basic therapeutic communication skills. The opportunity to engage in an immersion experience (cooking class) with older adults was offered. Ninety-two students were administered a pre-post intervention survey that included thirty questions selected from three previously validated scales measuring ageist attitudes and beliefs, contact anxiety, and the desire to pursue a career in aging. A subgroup of students participated in the cooking class and completed the final project survey. Positive trends in ageism scores were observed from baseline to post-class educational sessions and post-immersion experience. Specifically, students reported improvements in the construct that addressed the stereotyping of older adults. This project aimed not only to foster students’ understanding of ageism and promote intergenerational contact with healthy older adults but also served as a platform for interprofessional education by bringing together healthcare students from various disciplines. The success of this brief intervention, coupled with an immersive experience for pre-health students, highlights the need to expand aging education to include ageism reduction education for students in pre-service coursework.

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