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INTO AGING SIMULATION IMPROVES EMPATHY OUTCOME IN ALLIED HEALTH STUDENTS

One of the greatest needs in healthcare is professionals who specialize in care of older adults. Collaboration among interprofessional teams are necessary for the patient and family to receive optimal care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of an aging simulation with nursing, social work, and recreation therapy students to determine if the simulation impacted their appreciation of the aging process and the importance of various health care providers in that process. Students (n=167) across recreation therapy (n=52), social work (n=41), and nursing majors (n=74) participated in Into Aging, a simulation game that mimics the aging process. Students were evaluated using the Kiersma-Chen Empathy Scale at pre-test and immediately following participation in Into Aging simulation. Results suggested that students significantly improved overall mean empathy scores (Z=-7.02, p<.001) from pre-test (M=85.7, SD=7.7) to post-test (M=89.4, SD=8.9) after participating in the Into Aging simulation. Results also identified significant differences in empathy scores from pre- to post-test within the recreation therapy (Z=-3.65, p<.001, r=-0.28), social work, (Z=-3.50, p<.001, r=-0.27), and nursing majors (Z=-4.84, p<.001, r=-0.37). Follow-up analyses from a repeated measures ANOVA identified a significant effect of time (Wilks’ λ=0.76, F(1, 164)=51.17, p<.001, partial □22=.24), but no significant group×time interaction (Wilks’ λ=0.99, F(2, 164)=.33, p=.718, partial □2=.004), suggesting all majors performed significantly better following participation in the Into Aging simulation. As our nation ages, there is increased need for interprofessional education and training in the field of geriatrics for future healthcare clinicians.