Teaching Geriatrics Medicine:

Abstract

Residents in two small family practice training programs were surveyed to ascertain their knowledge about training, attitudes toward older persons, and perceptions about barriers to geriatric preparation. While respondents expressed slightly more favorable than neutral attitudes toward older people, knowledge deficits were noted concerning the aging process. Respondents identified the low status accorded to chronic disease management, greater time and effort required to diagnose and treat older patients, and insufficient instruction in geriatrics as being the greatest barriers to geriatrics preparation. Given that older persons represent a large and growing proportion of patients seen by primary care physicians, medical education programs needs to address these barriers.