Abstract
The aging of society in Japan has rapidly progressed and the number of aged persons who consult dentists is increasing. It is necessary for dentists to consider the mental and physical problems specific to aged patients undergoing dental treatment. Tokyo Medical and Dental University has a gerodontic course run by the Department of Geriatric Dentistry. A simulated age program has been introduced into the gerodontic course so that student may learn from experience. In the program dental students experience various difficulties in seeing, hearing and moving by items such as wearing cataract glasses, weights, and supporters. As a result the students act and feel as if they were elderly. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the simulated age program on dental students. The subjects were 644th-year dental students in Faculty of Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University. They were divided into groups of two. The student whose function was restricted carried out one or two of 7 assignments, e.g., reading, ascending and descending stairs. The other who played a role of caregiver observed how his/her partner acted in the program. After finishing the program, the effect of the program was investigated using questionnaires. Many of the students who played the role of the aged patient answered that they felt disabled beyond their expectations. Many of the students who played the role of caregiver were aware of their partners' difficulty in ascending and descending stairs and doing manual tasks. Therefore, we concluded that the program is effective in raising students' awareness of aged patients' needs.
