Priorities of Turkish medical students regarding working with elderly individuals experiencing dementia

Abstract

Aim: As population ages, there will be a significant shift in the need for healthcare professionals who are trained in dementia care. Medical students are one of the primary backbones of healthcare system in developing countries, especially in Türkiye. Therefore, understanding the preferences of Turkish medical students regarding working with elderly patients, who are coping with dementia, can tackle this issue by application of appropriate educational strategies and healthcare policies. Materials and methods: This study applied a review approach to synthesize existing literature on the priorities of medical students towards dementia care. Articles were sourced from electronic databases such as PubMed, Wiley Online Library. Inclusion criteria were applied to select articles for analysis, with a particular emphasis on extracting data related to medical students' attitudes, perceptions, preferences, and factors affecting them regarding dementia care. Results: Nine hundred eighty-six studies (27 full texts) across electronic database were screened and 8 were selected on February 2024. The amount of exposure to geriatric care, career, and work characteristics affected students’ choices the most. Numerous studies evaluated the effect of interventions for dementia care promotion. Female students were more willing to work with elderly patients coping with dementia compared to their male counterparts. Conclusion: Turkish medical students feel both interested and apprehension regarding working with elderly individuals experiencing dementia. In order to address the probable issues which may stem from the healthcare needs of the aging population in Türkiye, it is vital that experts integrate and insert proper geriatric training, especially dementia care into medical curricula.

Keywords

• Turkish Medical students
• Dementia
• Career preferences
• Elder care

References

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