Knowledge and attitudes regarding geriatric care and training among student pharmacists

ObjectiveTo assess the knowledge and attitudes of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students regarding geriatric care and training.MethodsThe survey was administered to first, second, and third professional year PharmD students at a four-year public university during the fall semester of 2011. Groups were differentiated based on completion of a geriatrics-focused course, which is offered annually as a two-credit elective for a maximum of 100 health professional students.ResultsA total of 193 student pharmacists completed the survey, which resulted in a response rate of 66.55%. The second and third professional year PharmD students who took the geriatrics-focused course showed significantly higher knowledge of geriatric care (mean = 8.46 and 10.12, respectively) compared to their peers who did not take the course (mean = 7.45, p = 0.03; and mean = 8.67, p = 0.02, respectively). Second and third professional year students who participated in the geriatrics-focused course were more likely to be interested in additional geriatric care training compared to their peers who had not taken the course (p = 0.05 each). First professional year students who did not have the opportunity to take the geriatrics course yet placed high importance on participating in a geriatrics-focused course in the pharmacy curriculum.ConclusionStudent pharmacists who took a geriatrics-focused course had stronger knowledge of geriatrics and more positive attitudes regarding geriatric care training. Therefore, schools and colleges of pharmacy should consider the positive impact of a geriatrics-focused course on students’ geriatric knowledge and their attitudes toward geriatric care training.