Investigating pharmacy students' attitudes toward nursing facility patients after a geriatric rotation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate pharmacy students' attitudes toward nursing facility patients and nursing facilities after completing a geriatric rotation. DESIGN: A cross-sectional post-test 20-item survey SETTING: An academic institution and two nursing facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Nursing facility patients and second-year Appalachian College of Pharmacy students. INTERVENTIONS: Students in Early Pharmacy Practice Experience 2 geriatric course. OUTCOME MEASURES: Students' attitudes toward nursing facility patients and nursing facilities (14 items). RESULTS: Of 138 students, 91.4% completed the survey following their geriatric rotation. Most students had positive attitudes toward nursing facility patients and nursing facilities on all 14 items. For example, students thought, "most older people are pleasant to be with" (mean = 3.88 ± 1.1). About 98% of students had adequate knowledge of geriatrics. Age, gender, marital status, and relationship with grandparents were not associated with students' attitudes (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pharmacy students had positive attitudes toward elderly patients and nursing facilities and adequate knowledge of geriatrics after completing the geriatric rotation. © 2013 American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, Inc.