Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science
Event Title
Role of Simulation in Changing Students' Attitudes and Approaches to Poverty
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science
Start Date
11-4-2014 10:15 AM
End Date
11-4-2014 11:45 AM
Sponsor
Carriann Smith (Butler University)
Description
Background: Poverty can be defined as the lack of access to basic human needs: food, water, and shelter, but also can include education and health care, and is considered to be directly related to an individual's health. College students are more likely to come from upper and middle class families and have little idea what it is like to be part of a low income family. For future professionals to have meaningful interactions with this group of people, they must be aware of the prevalence of poverty and some of the difficulties these people face.
Study Objectives: To evaluate the awareness and attitudes of Butler University pharmacy students enrolled in Therapeutics 1 case conference towards poverty. Another study objective is to determine the effectiveness of a live, in-class simulation on changing attitudes toward the impoverished.
Methods: The study objectives were met using a pre-survey posted online through Survey Monkey, which requested demographic data and assessed baseline attitudes towards poverty using the Undergraduates Perceptions of Poverty Tracking Survey (UPPTS). This was followed by a live, in-class simulation (Community Action Poverty Simulation, or CAPS) in which the participants were asked to try to live for 4 "weeks" making decisions based on having low income. The post survey requested reflection information, and also used the same scale to assess change in students' attitudes towards poverty.
Preliminary Results: 122 students (34.71% male, 65.29% female, ages 21-34) were surveyed and participated in the simulation. 74.38% of students reported a household income of $75,000 or greater. 52.07% of students claimed to have little or no personal connection to poverty. Also, 51.24% of students believed that the impoverished created their own difficulties. The pre and post survey analysis has not yet been completed.
Role of Simulation in Changing Students' Attitudes and Approaches to Poverty
Indianapolis, IN
Background: Poverty can be defined as the lack of access to basic human needs: food, water, and shelter, but also can include education and health care, and is considered to be directly related to an individual's health. College students are more likely to come from upper and middle class families and have little idea what it is like to be part of a low income family. For future professionals to have meaningful interactions with this group of people, they must be aware of the prevalence of poverty and some of the difficulties these people face.
Study Objectives: To evaluate the awareness and attitudes of Butler University pharmacy students enrolled in Therapeutics 1 case conference towards poverty. Another study objective is to determine the effectiveness of a live, in-class simulation on changing attitudes toward the impoverished.
Methods: The study objectives were met using a pre-survey posted online through Survey Monkey, which requested demographic data and assessed baseline attitudes towards poverty using the Undergraduates Perceptions of Poverty Tracking Survey (UPPTS). This was followed by a live, in-class simulation (Community Action Poverty Simulation, or CAPS) in which the participants were asked to try to live for 4 "weeks" making decisions based on having low income. The post survey requested reflection information, and also used the same scale to assess change in students' attitudes towards poverty.
Preliminary Results: 122 students (34.71% male, 65.29% female, ages 21-34) were surveyed and participated in the simulation. 74.38% of students reported a household income of $75,000 or greater. 52.07% of students claimed to have little or no personal connection to poverty. Also, 51.24% of students believed that the impoverished created their own difficulties. The pre and post survey analysis has not yet been completed.