@article{f614d14e01fd4a719b7de51f70b28b49,
title = "Relating Medical Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experience to an Interest in Geriatric Medicine",
abstract = "Purpose: This study examined medical students' interest in geriatrics: Are knowledge, positive attitudes, and prior experience with older adults associated with an interest in geriatric medicine? Design and Methods: Entering University of Michigan medical students completed three surveys: the Revised Facts on Aging Quiz, the University of California at Los Angeles Geriatric Attitudes Scale, and the Maxwell-Sullivan Attitudes Scale. The students were also asked questions about their prior experience with older adults and their interest in geriatric medicine. Results: The results indicate that incoming medical students have minimal knowledge about aging, moderately positive attitudes toward older adults, and low interest in geriatric medicine. Having more positive attitudes toward older adults (B = .28) and having cared for older persons prior to medical school (β = .14) were associated with greater interest in geriatric medicine. Implications: These findings suggest that interventions to increase the number of geriatric-oriented physicians should focus on influencing learners' attitudes through experiences in the care of older adults.",
author = "Fitzgerald, {James T.} and Wray, {Linda A.} and Halter, {Jeffrey B.} and Williams, {Brent C.} and Supiano, {Mark A.}",
note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. We thank Barbara Shay, Amy Schiller, and James Jensen for their efforts as members of the evaluation core committee and for their thoughtful comments and insights concerning the evaluation design. Funding Information: These finding have implications for medical curricula that aim to improve their students{\textquoteright} knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to the care of older adults. In 2001 the UMMS implemented a comprehensive program funded by a Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grant that is aimed at expanding and enhancing the medical school{\textquoteright}s geriatrics education activities. The overall goal is to ensure that every medical student who completes her or his training at UMMS has meaningful educational experiences in geriatrics and has demonstrated competence in providing care for older adults. Although the goal is ambitious, it recognizes the fact that physicians in all specialties (with some exceptions, such as pediatrics) will increasingly care for older patients during the course of their careers. The medical school curriculum is being revised to include greater geriatrics content across all 4 years with required components in both preclinical and clinical phases of medical school education. The results from this study suggest that hands-on clinical experience is an essential element in this program and that additional efforts should focus on increasing students{\textquoteright} direct contact with older patients. Copyright: Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
year = "2003",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1093/geront/43.6.849",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "43",
pages = "849--855",
journal = "Gerontologist",
issn = "0016-9013",
publisher = "Oxford University Press",
number = "6",
}