Assessing Skills, Attitudes, and Knowledge in Gerontology: The Results of an Infused Curriculum Project

Abstract

As the population of the United States continues to shift to unprecedented numbers of older adults, the demand for competent geriatric social workers at the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) level will soon be at crisis point. The outcomes of a study on the impact of BSW student exposure to an infused gerontology social work curriculum on students' skills, attitudes, knowledge, and career choice to work with older adults are reported. Results indicate that students' gerontology skill level in the postcurriculum group was significantly higher than in the precurriculum group. Attitudes toward older adults, however, appeared more difficult to impact. Knowledge regarding older adults did increase in the right direction for all student groups as their exposure to the infused curriculum increased. While overall interest in working with older adults did not increase, more students in the second year of the project requested field internships with older adults. This project was conducted as part of a John A. Hartford Foundation Geriatric Enrichment Grant.