Background: Empathy and a positive attitude are essential competencies in healthcare, particularly when caring for older adults. Their development is therefore a critical component of undergraduate dental education. This study evaluates whether using aging simulation suits can enhance empathy and improve attitudes toward older adults among dental students. Methods: Third- to fifth-year dental students from the University Clinics of Dental Medicine in Geneva, Switzerland, participated in an aging-simulation experience using the GERonTologic age simulation suit (GERT®), which replicates age-related physical impairments. Students performed tasks in four predefined scenarios, both with and without the suit. Changes in empathy and attitudes were measured using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students’ version (JSE-HPS) and the Geriatric Attitudes Scale (GAS) questionnaires. Perceptions of the intervention were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. Results: Sixty-three undergraduate students (45 women, 18 men), aged 20–53 years, participated. The suit significantly impaired their physical abilities (p < 0.001). Empathy improved post-intervention (p = 0.038), particularly in the third-year group. Attitude towards older adults improved significantly post-intervention (p = 0.001), mainly among fourth- and fifth-year students. All participants endorsed the positive value of the intervention. Conclusions: The intervention’s impact varied by clinical experience: empathy increased mainly in less experienced students, while attitudes improved in those with more exposure to elderly care. This suggests that the timing of simulation within the curriculum influences outcomes. Aging simulation represents a promising educational approach to enhance empathy, improve attitudes toward older adults, and prepare dental students for the clinical and psychosocial aspects of geriatric care.
Frigerio et al. (Thu,) studied this question.