The Effect of Role-Playing and Aged Simulation Suit on Empathy and Positive Attitude towards the Older-People
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Date
2022
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Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of role playing alone and role playing and simulation of older people suit together on empathizing with the older people, and developing positive attitudes towards them in nursing and medical students. Methods: The study was carried out in the pre-test post-test experimental design, with the participation of 64 nursing and medical students. All students were given a course on empathizing with the older people; and the experimental group used an aged simulation suit (n: 34). Quantitative data were collected using information forms, Jefferson Scale of Empathy and Kogan's Attitude Towards Older People Scale, and qualitative data were collected using Semi-structured Interview Forms. The quantitative data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.) and SAS software (Version 9.3; PROC MIXED SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Results: Considering the mean empathy scores of the nursing and medical students, there is a difference between the experimental and control groups in both college s. The changes between pre- and post-intervention scores are in the direction of increase, and significant in the experimental and control groups. The changes in the mean older people attitude scores of the students are different in relation with the colleges and the groups. While students expressed in their interviews that they could feel the physical incapability of the older people with the aged simulation suit, they stated that they experienced rather the emotional aspect of empathy in role playing. Students explained that positive changes might occur in their behavior towards the older people by the end of the course. Conclusion: It may be supposed that role playing alone and role playing and aged simulation suit together support each other in terms of showing positive attitudes and empathic approach to the older people.