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JCPSLP
Volume 17, Number 2 2015
Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology
people who are medically well and medically complex, as
well as those with dementia) occurred, with an evident shift
towards feeling confident to complete tasks independently
or with some support. As indicated in Table 2, a positive
change in students’ attitudes was noted, as measured on
the UCLA-GAS; however, the change was not statistically
significant.
Following an adult placement, future employment within
a residential setting was rated more favourably than at
pre-placement based on group weighted preference scores
(refer to Figure 3). Working with people with dementia
in hospital (pre-post preference scores: 3.2; 4.3) or
residential setting (pre-post preference scores: 4.5; 4.9)
increased. Working with people aged 65–85 was rated
more favourably (group weighted pre-post scores: 8.4;
8.8), however working with people older than 85 declined
in overall preference ranking (pre-post preference scores:
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
% of participants
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7
Confidence in clinical skills following a placement in an adult service.
Confident, can do it
independently
Confident, but will
need support
Not confident, but have a
good idea of what is required
Not confident, unsure of
what is required
Figure 5. Students’ reported confidence post-placement (n = 52)
Note.
Assessment and management of: C1 communication changes
arising as a normal part of ageing, C2 acquired motor speech
disorders in older people, C3 language disorders in older people,
C4 cognitive-communication disorders, C5 swallowing disorders in
medically well older people, C6 swallowing disorders in medically
complex older people, and C7 swallowing in people with dementia.
Table1: Pre- and post-placement responses of students on geriatric attitude scale
Agree or strongly agree
Neutral
Disagree or strongly disagree
Pre (%¹)
Post (%)
Pre (%)
Post (%)
Pre (%)
Post (%)
UCLA Geriatric Attitude Scale items
n = 74
n = 52
n = 74 n = 52
n = 74
n = 52
Most old people are pleasant to be with.
79.7
²
59
92.0
48
16.3
12
6.0
3
4.0
3
2.0
1
If I have the choice, I would rather see younger
patients than elderly ones.
31.1
23
19.2
10
35.1
26
40.4
21
33.8
25
40.4
21
Medical care for old people uses up too much
human and material resources.
4.0
3
3.8
2
10.8
8
6.0
3
85.1
63
90.4
47
Taking a medical history from elderly patients is
frequently an ordeal.
13.5
10
6.0
3
44.5
33
27.0
14
42.0
31
64.0
35
Treatment of chronically ill old patients is
hopeless.
2.7
2
2.0
1
13.5
10
7.6
4
83.8
62
90.4
47
It is interesting listening to old people’s accounts
of their past experiences.
91.9
68
92.0
48
6.7
5
6.0
3
1.4
1
2.0
1
¹ Percentage of students whose responses were in this category
2
Items in italics reflect the % of participants with a positive attitude
based rehabilitation setting. Twenty-nine participants (39%)
ranked a paediatric caseload as their first employment
preference, and 13 participants (17.5%) ranked a paediatric
caseload as the least desirable option. Working with people
on a palliative pathway or those with dementia, irrespective
of setting, was rated least favourably.
Change in knowledge, confidence,
attitudes, and employment interest
following a clinical placement
Matched pre-post-placement surveys (n = 52) were
analysed and revealed that participants demonstrated a
statistically significant increase (
p
< 0.05) in their aggregate
scores for knowledge and confidence in clinical skills across
all items (refer to figures 3 and 4, and Table 2) following
completion of a clinical placement in an adult service.
Increased knowledge of, and confidence in, management
of both communication (i.e., motor speech, cognitive-
communication, and language impairments) and swallowing
changes and disorders in an older population (i.e., in older
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
% of participants
K1
K2
K3
K4
Post-placement knowledge (n=52)
I know a lot
I know quite a lot
I only know a little
I know nothing
Figure 4. Students’ reported knowledge post-placement
Note.
K1 Age related and acquired communication changes and
disorders in older people. K2 Communication changes associated
with dementia. K3 Age related and acquired swallowing disorders in
older people. K4 Swallowing changes associated with dementia.