PERCEPTIONS OF SECOND YEAR MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENTS REGARDING AGEING AND GERIATRIC EDUCATION: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Introduction: Existing literature on the geriatric-related attitudes of medical students reveals inconsistent results in terms of feelings for the elderly. This study aims to determine the perceptions of medical students regarding ageing and geriatric education. Materials and Method: A qualitative study was conducted with 160 second-year medical students who visited a nursing home and responded to three open-ended questions about this experience. The responses were qualitatively analysed using the constant comparative method for themes. Results: Second year medical students indicated both positive and negative impressions of ageing. Although they generally believed that ageing brings experience and maturity, happy ageing was seen as being dependent on individual characteristics and personality factors that affect the emotional aspects of ageing and, therefore, quality of life. The students indicated recognition that ageing is related to inevitable physiological changes and a belief that most illnesses in the elderly are untreatable because of the natural decline in health related to ageing. Students indicated a sense of inadequacy in communicating with the elderly and emphasised the importance of introducing geriatric psychiatry lessons into the curriculum to improve their understanding of the elderly. Conclusion: This study provides a better understanding of the opinions of future doctors about ageing and of beliefs that should be addressed to help in the making of doctors with more positive attitudes toward older people.