BACKGROUND

The increase in demand for a more comprehensive care for the elderly in the Philippines raises the importance of sufficient number of adequately trained medical professionals in geriatric care. This study aimed to determine and compare the knowledge, attitude, and willingness to consider a career in geriatric medicine of fourth year medical students and postgraduate interns in a tertiary hospital in Manila.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 105 fourth year medical students and 81 postgraduate interns using a self-administered questionnaire incorporating the Facts on Aging Quiz 2015, UCLA Geriatric Attitude Scale, and a section exploring the willingness of students to consider a career in geriatric medicine and their reasons. Knowledge scores, attitude scores and prevalence of those willing to consider geriatric medicine as a career were analyzed using Student T-test, Mann Whitney U test, and Chi-square test, respectively.

RESULTS

The mean knowledge scores of fourth year medical students and postgraduate interns were 31.15 (60.30%) and 30.98 (61.95%), respectively. Median attitude score of both groups was 3.79. Among students, 58.10% are willing to consider geriatric medicine as a career, while 50.62% among interns. Both groups had adequate level of knowledge and positive attitude. However, no statistical significance was found between their knowledge scores (p=0.72), attitude scores (p=0.61) and prevalence of willingness (p=0.31). The main reason of participants in having interest in geriatric medicine was their social and personal responsibilities towards the elderly, while difficulty in handling patients was the top reason for not considering the field.

CONCLUSION

Continuously developing the Philippine geriatric medicine education and curriculum will assist in enhancing the knowledge and improving the positive attitudes of trainees. This will later translate in better care for the elderly.

Human ; Knowledge ; Attitude