Gonzales Ernest, Morrow-Howell Nancy, Gilbert Pat
Center for Social Development; and George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Gerontol Geriatr Educ. 2010;31(3):220-34. doi: 10.1080/02701960.2010.503128.
Given the growth in the number of older adults and the ageist attitudes many in the health care profession hold, interventions aimed at improving health professionals' attitudes toward older adults are imperative. Vital Visionaries is an intergenerational art program designed to improve medical students' attitudes toward older adults. Participants met for four 2-hour sessions at local art museums to create and discuss art. Three hundred and twenty-eight individuals (112 treatment group, 96 comparison, 120 older adults) in eight cities participated in the program and evaluation. Participants completed pre-and postsurveys that captured their attitude toward older adults, perception of commonality with older adults, and career plans. Findings suggest that medical students' attitudes toward old adults were positive at pretest. However, Vital Visionary students became more positive in their attitudes toward older adults at posttest (p < .001), with a moderate effect size, G = .60, and they felt they had more in common with older adults at posttest (p < .001), with a moderate effect size, G = .64. The program did not influence their career plans (p = .35). Findings from this demonstration project suggest that socializing medical students with healthy older adults through art programs can foster positive attitudes and enhance their sense of commonality with older adults.
鉴于老年人数量的增长以及医疗保健行业许多人持有的年龄歧视态度，旨在改善医护人员对老年人态度的干预措施势在必行。“重要远见者”是一个跨代艺术项目，旨在改善医学生对老年人的态度。参与者在当地艺术博物馆参加了四次为时两小时的课程，以创作和讨论艺术作品。来自八个城市的328人（112名治疗组、96名对照组、120名老年人）参与了该项目及评估。参与者完成了前后调查，调查内容包括他们对老年人的态度、与老年人的共性认知以及职业规划。研究结果表明，医学生在预测试时对老年人的态度是积极的。然而，参与“重要远见者”项目的学生在测试后对老年人的态度变得更加积极（p <.001），效应量中等，G =.60，并且他们在测试后感觉自己与老年人有更多的共同之处（p <.001），效应量中等，G =.64。该项目并未影响他们的职业规划（p =.35）。这个示范项目的研究结果表明，通过艺术项目让医学生与健康的老年人交往可以培养积极的态度，并增强他们与老年人的共性意识。
