Pharmacy Student Perceptions on Geriatric Quality of Life

Abstract

Specific Aims: To review overall quality of life (QOL) in active geriatric patients and to observe different attitudes toward aging in the student comparison groups. Subjects: Current students, regardless of academic year, attending the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy with a university email account. Methods: Data was collected using an electronic questionnaire. A link to the questionnaire was sent out via email to all University of Arizona, College of Pharmacy students. Another email containing the link to the questionnaire was sent two weeks after the initial notification. The questionnaire consisted of 36 questions requesting students to express their perspective on the health status, mental status and physical abilities of the elderly. Main Results: Geriatric patients tended to have a more positive view on their overall health when compared to students' perceptions of geriatric QOL (86.7% versus 35.7%, P <0.05). Students were also more likely to have the perception that geriatric patients had limitations in regular activities due to physical health and emotional problems when compared to the actual responses of older adults (72.6% versus 40.0%, P <0.05; and 60.0% versus 16.7%, P <0.05; respectively). There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between responses from students and geriatric patients to every question. Conclusions: There appears to be a noteworthy difference between pharmacy student perceptions of geriatric QOL and actual older adult QOL responses that may warrant an educational intervention.