Explaining Student Interest and Confidence in Providing Care for Older Adults: The Role of Demographics and Life Experiences

America's aging population needs interprofessional health care providers committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care. Considering the often negative attitudes held by health care students about older adults and the impact that can have on their care, it is important to explore factors that influence student attitudes and desire to provide geriatric care. Five hundred seventy-two students pursuing nursing, physical therapy, athletic training, dietetics, and social work degrees were surveyed. Students reported demographic factors, amount of contact with older adults, how rewarding that contact had been, and confidence and interest in working with older adults. Higher levels of confidence were associated with gender, studying nursing or physical therapy, and being older. Overall, confidence and interest were positively correlated with (a) positive attitudes toward aging, (b) contact frequency, and (c) quality experiences with older adults. Therefore, confident students with an interest in working with the geriatric population upon graduation have more exposure and more rewarding experiences with older adults before entering their program. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 43(3), 13-18.].