Effect of Simulated Aging Game versus Traditional Lecture on Nursing Students Knowledge and Attitude towards Elderly

Attitude of nursing students toward elderly tends to be negative. This attitude can be changed by increasing awareness of normal aging processes through simulated aging games. Objective: Determine the effect of simulated aging game versus traditional lecture on nursing students knowledge and attitude towards elderly. Setting: This study was conducted in the Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing-Mansoura University. Subjects: A total number of 82 fourth year nursing students were included in the study. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection; Nursing Students’ Socio-Demographic, and their Experience with Elderly Structured Interview Schedule, Kogan Attitudes towards Old People Scale (KAOP), and Nursing Students Knowledge Related to Normal Physiological Changes Of Aging. Results: Significant differences in knowledge and attitude scores among students in the simulation group compared to those in the lecture group after the application of the simulation game. Conclusion: Simulation improves knowledge, and attitude of nursing students toward older adults than the traditional lecture. Recommendations: Simulation is an effective teaching method that enables students to improve their knowledge and attitude toward elderly.