Maximizing the Impact of a Symposium to Facilitate Change in Student Attitudes about Interdisciplinary Teamwork

Abstract

Elderly patients, including those with dementia, have more complex health care needs, which may be more effectively served by interdisciplinary teams. Yet, few health care students receive interdisciplinary education. This article describes the improved outcomes of a second annual symposium for health care students on interdisciplinary care for older adults with dementia. Students (n = 109) completed a pre/post assessment using the Attitudes Toward Healthcare Teams Scale. A t-test for paired samples indicated a statistically significant increase in pre-post test scores (p < .001); we observed a larger effect size of change in student attitudes for this symposium than the first (η² = .48). The results support the value of pedagogical changes in facilitating a greater change in student attitudes about interdisciplinary teamwork.

Keywords:

• elderly
• geriatric
• health care
• interdisciplinary
• older adults
• training

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Michelle Johnson for her assistance with data organization and entry. They also thank members of the symposium planning committee: Carol R. Scheerer, Susan Namei, and Margaret O. King. Funds from Xavier University's College of Social Sciences, Health, and Education supported the symposium described in this article.