Using Virtual Patient Software to Improve Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Geriatric Patients

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the effect of using a virtual patient software program to improve pharmacy students' knowledge of and attitudes toward geriatric patients. Methods. The Virtual Patient for Geriatric Education (VIPAGE) software program was used in two Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) degree programs in Brazilian universities. The virtual consultations were divided into an initial evaluation, care plan, letter of referral to another professional, and evaluation of follow-up. Each weekly session lasted two hours. Students answered questionnaires before and after using the virtual patient software relating to the following: demographics, geriatric experiences, Geriatric Attitudes Scale, and the Facts on Aging Quiz. Results. Of the 128 students who completed the baseline questionnaires, 109 students also completed the second questionnaire. The mean Geriatric Attitudes Scale score before the intervention was 3.7 (SD50.8) and after was 3.9 (SD50.7). Significant improvements in Geriatric Attitudes Scale scores after using the virtual patient software were seen in students who were male, whose grandparents were still alive, or whose parents were elderly, who had frequent contact with the elderly, who did not have frequent contact with the elderly, and who did not have professional contact with the elderly. The average score on geriatrics knowledge was 44.7 (SD512.0) before completing the virtual patient consultations and 52.6 (SD511.9) after. The mean score measuring students' lack of geriatrics knowledge was 27.3 (SD515.8) before and 19.1 (SD512.8) after using the software. Conclusion. Completing virtual patient consultations using the VIPAGE software positively impacted pharmacy students' geriatrics knowledge and attitudes.

Clinical Pharmacists’ Knowledge of and Attitudes toward Older Adults

“…This trend of positive attitudes may be affected by the foundation that may be laid for pharmacy students who complete a focused educational activity on geriatrics. A variety of educational activities have been studied, including entire courses, workshops, simulations, gaming, health screening clinics, film studies, virtual assessments, structured interaction with seniors, and geriatrics-based rotations (e.g., long-term care facilities) [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. These studies generally involve a pre/post assessment without a control group, although there was one comparison of students who had already completed a course versus those who had not yet completed the course [ 31 ] and one service learning intervention that had a control group [ 34 ].…”

“…One Canadian study from 1991 evaluated pharmacists [ 26 ], and there is one study from Saudi Arabia [ 27 ] and one from Malaysia [ 28 ]. There have been multiple studies of pharmacy students showing that educational interventions result in positive student attitudes [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. A longitudinal study found that pharmacy students maintained positive attitudes toward older adults throughout the pharmacy curriculum [ 39 ].…”