Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Objectives Research indicates significant improvement in average attitudes toward those in poverty following poverty simulations, but little research addresses whether students benefit uniformly. This study measured variability in poverty attitude change following poverty simulations and tested whether poverty attitudes are associated with simulation evaluations. Methods Third‐year dental students were surveyed at baseline (T 1 ), post‐simulation (T 2 ), and 2‐month follow‐up (T 3 ). Poverty attitudes reflect Likert‐scale agreement with 20 statements addressing personal responsibility and public policies. Simulation evaluations were measured at T 2 and T 3 by agreement with eight statements addressing the simulation's value and impact on patient care. Data analysis relied on descriptive statistics, paired‐samples t ‐tests, and Pearson correlations. Results Students’ ( N = 169) average poverty attitudes were 9.4 points higher at T 2 than T 1 (p < 0.001) and 7.9 points higher at T 3 than T 1 (p < 0.001). However, 21.7% reported lower attitude scores at T 2 , and 34.6% reported lower attitude scores at T 3 , with a 4‐point median decline from T 1 in each group. Baseline poverty attitudes did not predict simulation evaluations, but T 2 poverty attitudes correlated with T 2 ( r = 0.33) and T 3 ( r = 0.45) evaluations. Also, T 3 poverty attitudes were correlated with T 2 simulation evaluations ( r = 0.35) and T 3 ( r = 0.44) evaluations (all p < 0.001). Conclusions Poverty simulations enhance poverty attitudes on average, but potentially worsen attitudes among a substantial percentage of students. Those with negative post‐simulation attitudes toward poverty also are likely to value the simulation less and may require different teaching strategies.
Source: Journal of Dental Education
DOI: 10.1002/jdd.70090
Institutions: University of Iowa, Florida State University
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
SDGs: No poverty, Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,570
OpenAlex ID: W4415566881