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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Marcia Nelson, MD¹, Antonios Likourezos, MA, MPH², Samantha Jellinek, PharmD¹, Amy Church, MD², and Barbara Paris, MD¹. (1) ACE Unit, Maimonides Medical Center, 4802 Tenth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219, (2) Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, 4802 Tenth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219, 718-283-6896, alikourezos@maimonidesmed.org

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess medical student and resident attitudes toward the elderly. We compared medical student and resident responses to an attitudes survey containing 32 Aging Semantic Differentials (ASDs). The ASD is a validated instrument used to measure valences and content of stereotypic attitudes towards the 70 and 90 year old, and is scored from 1 to 7 (1 more positive, 4 neutral, and 7 more negative). One hundred fifteen participants (34 medical students and 81 residents) completed the survey. Median age was 28 years (range: 24 to 41), and 65% were males. Sixty percent had formal geriatric training in medical school and 74% lived with and/or provided personal care for an elderly person. Participants found both elderly populations to be generous, satisfied, friendly, neat, trustful, and pleasant. However, overall attitudes were positive for the 70 year old but negative for the 90 year old (mean total score of 3.81 vs. 4.41 respectively; P<.0001). The negative characteristics perceived in both populations were old-fashioned, idle, weak, conservative, intolerant, defensive, and dull. In comparison between the medical students and residents, we found that they equally perceive the 70 year old positively (3.93 vs. 3.76 respectively; P=.502), and the 90 year old negatively (4.46 vs. 4.39; P=.659). In conclusion, both medical students and residents overall express more positive than negative attitudes toward the young elderly, but more negative than positive attitudes toward the old elderly. More education and exposure to the elderly population may positively change attitudes.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

• List at least 10 of the 32 Aging Semantic Differentials.
• Identify the differences in perception of the elderly between medical students and residents.
• Discuss how to improve attitudes of medical students and residents towards the elderly.

Keywords: Survey, Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No