@article{ca6aaec649a44b8a9dabdda150860de4,
title = "Evaluating outcomes of Taiwan's first gerontology certification program",
abstract = "The elderly population will approach 20% within the next 20 years. This enhances the need for skilled and experienced health care providers. There is a critical need to strengthen gerontology curricula to prepare health-related professionals for a graying population. The purpose of this article is to investigate student satisfaction with the first National Project for Excellence in Gerontological Care Education (NPEGCE) in Taiwan. A cross-sectional design was used. A sample of 151 medical, nursing, and physical therapy students, who had enrolled in the NPEGCE and had taken at least one core course, completed a satisfaction questionnaire. To ensure content validity, a multidisciplinary, institutional committee of gerontology and geriatric faculty designed the content. Overall satisfaction scores varied between satisfied (4-points) and very satisfied (5-points). Medical students gave higher ratings than others. Two factors (Curriculum and Teaching) were extracted. A strong correlation was found between the subscales and overall satisfaction scores. Internal scale consistency reliability scores ranged from 0.92 to 0.96. Overall, this study demonstrates a moderate level of satisfaction with the NPEGCE. However, these results are from a single institution; they are not generalizable. This is also the first student satisfaction report from Taiwan. There are no similar programs or evaluation results to compare them with. Since the NPEGCE was well received by students and seemed to encourage a more nurturing attitude towards the elderly; it can be regarded as a catalyst for better elderly care in the future.",
keywords = "Geriatric assessment, Gerontology certificate program, Health care curriculum design in Taiwan, Student satisfaction",
author = "Wang, {Cheng Ching} and Yen, {Chi Hua} and Liao, {Wen Chun} and Yuan, {Su Chuan} and Chen, {Yu Ru} and Lee, {Meng Chih} and Lu, {Hsin Ju} and Patricia Bloom",
note = "Funding Information: Health care providers in Taiwan need to increase their direct and indirect work with the elderly. However, previous studies have indicated that health care providers do not enjoy elderly care due to a lack of appropriate skills ( Whitehouse et al., 2000; Palmore, 2001 ). Other studies have revealed elderly care to be the least preferred choice. Social workers, health care workers and nursing students generally have negative attitudes, misconceptions, stereotypes, inadequate knowledge and low priorities concerning elderly care ( Kwan and Law, 1995; Knapp and Stubblefield, 2000; Puentes and Cayer, 2001 ). Gerontological education programs may raise awareness and knowledge, refine stereotypes and increase the understanding of various health and social resources for the elderly ( Tseng et al., 1998; Cianciolo et al., 2001; Palmore, 2001; Puentes and Cayer, 2001 ). In the US, UK and Taiwan, there is a perceived need for greater gerontological instruction for health care professionals ( Shoemake et al., 1998; King's Fund, 2001 ). Because elderly care involves numerous disciplines, the CSMU designed a comprehensive gerontology program, the NPEGCE. It is designed to offer the knowledge and skills necessary to be an advanced health care provider for Taiwan's rapidly graying population. The NPEGCE was the first comprehensive gerontology program in Taiwan to provide health-study undergraduates with specific knowledge and skills regarding aging ( Table 1 ). The NPEGCE was funded by the Ministry of Education. ",
year = "2010",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1016/j.archger.2009.04.002",
language = "English",
volume = "50",
pages = "231--240",
journal = "Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics",
issn = "0167-4943",
publisher = "Elsevier Ireland Ltd",
number = "2",
}