Dietetics students' attitudes toward older adults - Geriatric Nutrition - Brief Article

Nutrition Research Newsletter, March, 2002

The population of individuals aged 65 years or older in the United States is expected to double from 35 million to 70 million by 2030. With the aging of America, perceptions and attitudes toward older adults are becoming more important. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently acknowledged a high prevalence of older adults with conditions for which nutrition therapy is beneficial and recommended that it should be reimbursable through Medicare. However, previous studies have suggested that students training for healthcare professions generally consider working with older adults to be a low priority. A recent study examined the knowledge and attitudes about older adults as well as the work preferences of dietetics and nutrition students.

The five states with the largest population of older adults were identified as California, Florida, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Next, the two largest dietetics and nutrition programs at universities in each of these states were identified. A 97-item questionnaire which included demographic items and a ranking section on work preferences by age groups were sent out to students in these programs. Two validated scales were included in the questionnaire. The Palmore Facts on Aging Quiz measured knowledge about old age and the Oberleder Attitude Scale measured the degree to which students accepted or rejected stereotypes about aging.

Of 555 questionnaires that were sent out, 299 completed questionnaires were returned. In this sample, 65 percent were between 18 and 22 years of age, 91 percent were women, 81 percent were non-Hispanic whites, and 81 percent were seniors in college. Students had low knowledge about aging and neutral attitudes toward older adults. When asked which of the ten age groups they preferred to work with, subjects ranked the three oldest age groups (65-74, 75-84, 85 and older) lowest on average. About 87 percent of the students had some experience with older adults and 58 percent had work experience with them. Students with more positive attitudes had increased preferences for working with older adults. When asked about fears or concerns regarding working with this population, 45 percent reported concerns and 37 percent reported fears.

The mean score on the knowledge test (Palmore Facts on Aging Quiz) was lower for dietetics when compared with other disciplines. These results show that dietetics students' level of knowledge about older adults may need improvement. However, the dietetics students' general attitudes as per the Oberleder Attitude Scale was consistent with findings in other disciplines in which older adults are often thought of as being institutionalized, having lower incomes, and being bored, irritated, lonely and isolated. More didactic instruction about aging and more positive experiences with older adults through fieldwork

and emphasizing nutrition as prevention may be needed to prepare future practitioners to provide nutrition services to this increasing population segment.

Danielle Kaempfer, Nancy S. Wellman, and Susan P. Himburg. Dietetics students' low knowledge, attitudes, and work preferences toward older adults indicate need for improved education about aging, Journal of the American Dietetic Association 102(2): 197-202 (February 2002). [Address correspondence to: Nancy S. Wellman, PhD, RD, Professor, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University, OE 200, Miami, FL 33199. E-mail: wellman@fiu.edu.]