A MATTER OF BALANCE SERVICE LEARNING ACTIVITIES POSITIVELY IMPACT BOTH PHYSICAL THERAPY STUDENTS AND SENIORS CONFIDENCE

Kowalewski V.¹, Kinzler B.², Bonin K.¹, Schwarz B.², Bugnariu N.²

¹University of North Texas Health Science Center, Ft. Worth, United States, ²University of North Texas Health Science Center, Physical Therapy, Fort Worth, United States

Background: Service Learning (SL) activities provide PT students opportunities to practice and refine affective, cognitive and psychomotor skills in an authentic setting. As a result their interactions with, and first-hand learning of, older adults' needs and concerns, students can better advocate for the varying needs of senior patient population.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to investigate the impact of SL activities consisting of A Matter of Balance (AMOB) classes on:
1) physical therapy (PT) students' self-perceived confidence in working with older adults and on
2) seniors' attitude towards fear of falling.
We hypothesized PT students will have an increase in confidence working with seniors after participating in SL activities. Secondly, we hypothesize seniors who participate in the fall prevention course will have a decreased fear of falling as well as an increase in physical activity levels.

Methods: Eighty six PT students from two consecutive cohorts registered in a geriatrics course with a SL component including AMOB training and workshops participated. A total of 490 older adults ranging from 62-96 years of age, whom voluntarily signed up for a fall prevention course through the Senior Citizens Service participated. The SL activities consisted of PT students 1) attending an 8-hour training class in AMOB and 2) leading 8 x 2hour classes of AMOB workshops at senior community centers. PT students completed a 25-question questionnaire rating self-perceived levels of competence at pre-training, post-training and post workshops. Older adults completed the ABC questionnaire addressing their fall concerns and fears and reported their level of physical activities pre and post AMOB workshops.

Results: Both student cohorts had similar confidence levels at the beginning of SL activities. All students reported increased confidence in essential competencies for assessing and mediating the risk for falls in older adults at the end of the SL activities. The training component of SL had minimal influence on student competence. The significant increase in student confidence and competence took place only after completion of workshops in which students directly educated and interacted with older adults, post- AMOB workshops (p 0.01). Older adults displayed significantly increased confidence in getting up from al fall, reducing incidence, protecting themselves from a fall and increasing strength and balance (p 0.05).

Conclusion(s): Integrating SL into a first-year geriatric course improved students’ confidence and competence when working with the older adult population. PT students will apply this confidence in the clinical setting and will be prepare to effectively evaluate and treat the growing older adult population. Providing education regarding fall reduction may improve the safety and wellness for older adults, possibly leading to injury reduction and hospitalization.

Implications: To adequately address the safety, health, and wellness needs of the more prevalent older adult population, PT programs could implement SL activities to help prepare students examine and treat this population effectively. Educating older adults on fall prevention can reduce the number of fall related injuries and deaths occurring annually. SL activities have a positive impact on students, recipients, the community and the profession.

Funding acknowledgements: NA

Topic: Education: methods of teaching & learning

Ethics approval: UNT Health Science Center IRB committee approved the Research Project #2013-168

All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.