Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science
Event Title
“Play Spent” – An Online Poverty Simulation and its Influence on Butler University College of Pre-Pharmacy Students’ Attitudes Toward the Underserved Population
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science
Start Date
11-4-2014 8:30 AM
End Date
11-4-2014 10:00 AM
Sponsor
Carriann Smith (Butler University)
Description
Background: Negative attitudes towards those in low economic situations could interfere with the provision of patient centered care, equal treatment, patient advocacy and public policy development. Therefore, it is important to understand the attitudes towards poverty of students and to identify if different learning activities impact these attitudes. The ultimate goal was to expose students to other people's economic situations and help them better empathize with future patients.
Study objectives: Our objectives are to describe the baseline attitudes of students at Butler University majoring in Pre-Pharmacy in the PX 200 course towards those living in poverty; and to examine the effectiveness of using an online simulation in multiple sections of the PX200 course at Butler University to impact students' attitudes toward people in poverty.
Methods:This study was comprised of using an observation survey of students at Butler University who were enrolled the PX 200 course during the 2013-2014 academic year. The pre-survey requested demographic data and used the Likert scale to assess attitudes towards poverty. The post survey not only requested reflections from the students but also used the same scale to assess attitudes towards poverty. The data collected from the student survey on Survey Monkeypredominantly descriptive in nature.
Preliminary results: Of the 78 students that completed the pre-survey, 75 completed the post-survey. The preliminary results show 91.8% of students reported that following the online simulation, they were more thankful for what they have. Over 85% of students reported that they learned about the difficult choices individuals who live in poverty have to make. Eight-nine percent of students felt that the online simulation was either very worthwhile or worthwhile. Overall, the results show that the attitudes of participants were more positive towards those living in poverty. The results will be completed using SPSS before the final results can be reported.
“Play Spent” – An Online Poverty Simulation and its Influence on Butler University College of Pre-Pharmacy Students’ Attitudes Toward the Underserved Population
Indianapolis, IN
Background: Negative attitudes towards those in low economic situations could interfere with the provision of patient centered care, equal treatment, patient advocacy and public policy development. Therefore, it is important to understand the attitudes towards poverty of students and to identify if different learning activities impact these attitudes. The ultimate goal was to expose students to other people's economic situations and help them better empathize with future patients.
Study objectives: Our objectives are to describe the baseline attitudes of students at Butler University majoring in Pre-Pharmacy in the PX 200 course towards those living in poverty; and to examine the effectiveness of using an online simulation in multiple sections of the PX200 course at Butler University to impact students' attitudes toward people in poverty.
Methods:This study was comprised of using an observation survey of students at Butler University who were enrolled the PX 200 course during the 2013-2014 academic year. The pre-survey requested demographic data and used the Likert scale to assess attitudes towards poverty. The post survey not only requested reflections from the students but also used the same scale to assess attitudes towards poverty. The data collected from the student survey on Survey Monkeypredominantly descriptive in nature.
Preliminary results: Of the 78 students that completed the pre-survey, 75 completed the post-survey. The preliminary results show 91.8% of students reported that following the online simulation, they were more thankful for what they have. Over 85% of students reported that they learned about the difficult choices individuals who live in poverty have to make. Eight-nine percent of students felt that the online simulation was either very worthwhile or worthwhile. Overall, the results show that the attitudes of participants were more positive towards those living in poverty. The results will be completed using SPSS before the final results can be reported.