Attitude of Medical Residents Toward Older Adults

Abstract

Saudi Arabia is facing the challenge of an aging population. There is great demand to teach and train physicians in geriatric medicine.1, 2 Existing literature on the attitudes of medical trainees toward elderly adults shows a wide difference, ranging from negative to positive.3 A 29-question survey was distributed to medical residents at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre to ask about their attitude toward older adults. Forty-two of 85 residents completed the questionnaire (49% response rate); 79.1% of residents preferred to see younger individuals, 55.8% were not interested in treating elderly adults because they are more difficult to treat and have multiple illnesses, 34.9% sometimes ordered restraints or medication for agitated individuals without evaluating them, 53.5% thought that taking a medical history from an elderly adult was difficult, 55.8% did not feel comfortable treating elderly adults or prescribing medications for them, 62.8% thought that treatment of chronically ill elderly adults did not not change the outcome, 32.6% paid little attention to the social or personal effect of an illness on an elderly adult, 65.1% did not think that the current structure of the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre system was well suited to caring for elderly adults, 81.4% agreed that there was a need for a formal training program in geriatric medicine in Saudi Arabia, and 90.7% would not consider a career in geriatric medicine. The reasons for this negative attitude toward elderly adults could be the lack of instruction and training in geriatric medicine. There are no curricula covering geriatric medicine in medical schools or in residency programs in Saudi Arabia, and there has been no national geriatric fellowship program. In North America and Europe, there are well-structured rotations for geriatric medicine during medical school and residency training programs.4 This is important to ensure that future physicians are adequately prepared to care for older adults.5 Multiple studies have shown that geriatric education improves medical students' attitudes toward elderly adults.6 Educational strategies include direct care, bedside rounds, and lectures.7 The literature shows that an important means of tackling poor attitudes of staff toward older adults is through extensive and continued training. Swedish researchers reported that, after a year of special education, medical trainees came to view older adults with dementia as “unique human beings” rather than “a homogeneous group.8 Several authors have written about the importance of medical staff being exposed to healthy elderly adults, as well as to those who are ill. Staff who are trained and experienced in geriatrics will not only be better equipped to treat elderly adults, but also more sensitive to older adults' dignity and autonomy.9 Medical residents have negative attitudes toward older adults. This study shows the need for a comprehensive geriatric medicine curriculum in medical colleges and residency programs in Saudi Arabia to improve attitudes, knowledge, and skills in the care of older adults. Conflict of Interest: The author has no conflicts of interest in the research, no support from any organization for the submitted work, no financial relationships with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work, and no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work. Author Contributions: Muneerah M. Albugami is the sole author. Sponsor's Role: None.

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