Enhancing Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults Through an Artificial Intelligence Virtual Simulation: A Mixed-Method Design

Background/Objectives: The projected increase from 58 million older adults in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 in the United States highlights the urgency of preparing nursing students to care for this aging population. However, studies reveal negative attitudes among nursing students toward older adults....

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Main Authors: Anne White, Mary Beth Maguire, Austin Brown
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Nursing Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/14/4/279
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author Anne White
Mary Beth Maguire
Austin Brown
author_facet Anne White
Mary Beth Maguire
Austin Brown
author_sort Anne White
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: The projected increase from 58 million older adults in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 in the United States highlights the urgency of preparing nursing students to care for this aging population. However, studies reveal negative attitudes among nursing students toward older adults. A three-phased educational intervention that included an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven virtual simulation was implemented to address this. AI-generated simulations promise to expose marginalized groups and strengthen future nurses’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Methods: A convergent mixed-method design was used to measure the change in nursing students’ attitudes toward older adults, as measured by the UCLA Geriatrics Attitudes Survey and a Guided Reflection survey after participating in an Artificial Intelligence in Education learning event (<i>n</i> = 151). Results: The results indicate that post-intervention scores (M = 35.07, SD = 5.34) increased from pre-intervention scores (M = 34.50, SD = 4.86). This difference was statistically significant at the 0.10 significance level (t = 1.88, <i>p</i> = 0.06). The qualitative analysis indicated that the attitudes impacted were challenging and overcoming ageism, increased empathy and patience, and enhanced communication skills. Conclusions: Utilizing artificial intelligence technology during educational events effectively yields measurable learning outcomes. Cultivating positive attitudes toward older adults is essential for competent care in an aging society. This study was prospectively approved by the university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) on 30 July 2021, IRB-FY22-3.
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spelling doaj-art-9a1bb726afd749d88a002145cb6e01202025-08-20T02:43:42ZengMDPI AGNursing Reports2039-439X2039-44032024-12-011443819382910.3390/nursrep14040279Enhancing Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults Through an Artificial Intelligence Virtual Simulation: A Mixed-Method DesignAnne White0Mary Beth Maguire1Austin Brown2Wellstar School of Nursing, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USAWellstar School of Nursing, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USASchool of Data Science and Analytics, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USABackground/Objectives: The projected increase from 58 million older adults in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 in the United States highlights the urgency of preparing nursing students to care for this aging population. However, studies reveal negative attitudes among nursing students toward older adults. A three-phased educational intervention that included an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven virtual simulation was implemented to address this. AI-generated simulations promise to expose marginalized groups and strengthen future nurses’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Methods: A convergent mixed-method design was used to measure the change in nursing students’ attitudes toward older adults, as measured by the UCLA Geriatrics Attitudes Survey and a Guided Reflection survey after participating in an Artificial Intelligence in Education learning event (<i>n</i> = 151). Results: The results indicate that post-intervention scores (M = 35.07, SD = 5.34) increased from pre-intervention scores (M = 34.50, SD = 4.86). This difference was statistically significant at the 0.10 significance level (t = 1.88, <i>p</i> = 0.06). The qualitative analysis indicated that the attitudes impacted were challenging and overcoming ageism, increased empathy and patience, and enhanced communication skills. Conclusions: Utilizing artificial intelligence technology during educational events effectively yields measurable learning outcomes. Cultivating positive attitudes toward older adults is essential for competent care in an aging society. This study was prospectively approved by the university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) on 30 July 2021, IRB-FY22-3.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/14/4/279artificial intelligencesimulation trainingnursing educationgeriatricsattitudes survey
spellingShingle Anne White
Mary Beth Maguire
Austin Brown
Enhancing Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults Through an Artificial Intelligence Virtual Simulation: A Mixed-Method Design
Nursing Reports
artificial intelligence
simulation training
nursing education
geriatrics
attitudes survey
title Enhancing Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults Through an Artificial Intelligence Virtual Simulation: A Mixed-Method Design
title_full Enhancing Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults Through an Artificial Intelligence Virtual Simulation: A Mixed-Method Design
title_fullStr Enhancing Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults Through an Artificial Intelligence Virtual Simulation: A Mixed-Method Design
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults Through an Artificial Intelligence Virtual Simulation: A Mixed-Method Design
title_short Enhancing Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults Through an Artificial Intelligence Virtual Simulation: A Mixed-Method Design
title_sort enhancing nursing students attitudes toward older adults through an artificial intelligence virtual simulation a mixed method design
topic artificial intelligence
simulation training
nursing education
geriatrics
attitudes survey
url https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4403/14/4/279
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