Table 3.

Mean Geriatric Attitudes Scale (GAS) Item Comparisons between Student Groups (N = 129)

GAS Item	Gero (n=83)		Comparison (n=46)		t (127)
	M	(SD)	M	(SD)
Most old people are pleasant to be with.	4.12	(0.80)	3.57	(0.89)	3.63**
The federal government should reallocate money from Medicare to research on cancer or pediatric diseases.	3.35	(0.99)	3.48	(0.81)	−0.75
If I have the choice, I would rather care for younger patients than elderly ones.	2.29	(1.05)	2.11	(1.04)	0.94
It is society’s responsibility to provide care for its elderly persons.	3.77	(1.05)	4.02	(0.91)	−1.36
Medical care for old people uses up too much human and material resources.	3.78	(0.95)	3.74	(0.95)	0.24
As people grow older, they become less organized and more confused.	3.39	(0.97)	2.52	(0.94)	4.89**
Elderly patients tend to be more appreciative of the nursing care I provide than are younger patients.	3.63	(1.06)	3.57	(1.13)	0.31
Taking a health history from elderly patients is frequently an ordeal.	3.28	(0.91)	2.93	(0.95)	2.02*
I tend to pay more attention and have more sympathy towards my elderly patients than my younger patients.	2.28	(0.96)	2.76	(1.04)	0.39
Old people in general do not contribute much to society.	4.39	(0.84)	4.33	(0.79)	0.39
Treatment of chronically ill old patients is hopeless.	4.42	(0.84)	4.46	(0.69)	−0.24
Old persons don’t contribute their fair share towards paying for their health care.	4.13	(0.87)	4.22	(0.81)	−0.54
In general, old people act too slow for modern society.	4.05	(1.02)	4.11	(1.02)	−0.32
It is interesting listening to old people’s accounts of their past experiences.	4.43	(0.86)	4.50	(0.77)	−0.44

Note. Reprinted with permission.

^*p < .05,

^**p < .001.