Attitudes of Family Medicine Residents Towards the Elderly in Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: Healthcare services to the geriatric population are provided mainly by family physicians working. Therefore, family physicians' attitudes towards the elderly are key to the quality of healthcare services this population receives. This study was conducted to investigate the attitudes of family medicine residents who will soon work in primary healthcare institutions towards the elderly and the factors affecting these attitudes. Methods: This cross-sectional study featured an online survey. The data collection form included the University of California, Los Angeles Geriatrics Attitudes Scale (UCLA-GAS) and questions about residents' sociodemographic characteristics and attitudes towards the elderly. Results: Of the 386 full-time family medicine residents included in the sample, 69.7% were under the age of 30, and 72% were female. The mean duration the residents had been practicing medicine was 4.15±2.86 years, and the mean duration they had been residents was 22.6±11.2 months. Residents' attitudes towards the elderly were neutral-to-slightly positive. The mean UCLA-GAS scores of residents who did not receive structured geriatrics education as part of their family medicine residency were found to be significantly higher than those who did (p=0.007). Conclusion: Improving the positive attitudes of primary care physicians, to whom the elderly population first consults to receive health care, is important in terms of keeping the elderly population healthy and successful aging.

Keywords

• Elderly
• Attitude of Health Personnel
• Family Practice
• Ageism
• Health Services for the Elderly
• Geriatrics

Türkiye’deki Aile Hekimliği Asistanlarının Yaşlılara Karşı Tutumları: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Türkiye'de yaşlı nüfusa yönelik sağlık hizmetleri ağırlıklı olarak birinci basamak sağlık kurumlarında çalışan aile hekimleri tarafından sağlanmaktadır. Dolayısıyla, aile hekimlerinin yaşlılara yönelik tutumları yaşlı nüfusun aldığı sağlık hizmetlerinin kalitesi açısından kilit öneme sahiptir. Bu çalışma, yakın gelecekte birinci basamak sağlık kurumlarında çalışacak olan aile hekimliği asistanlarının yaşlılara yönelik tutumlarını ve bu tutumlarını etkileyen faktörleri araştırmak amacıyla yapılmıştır. Yöntem: Kesitsel olarak tasarlanan çalışmada katılımcılara çevrimiçi anket uygulanmıştır. Veri toplama formunda Kaliforniya Üniversitesi Los Angeles Geriatri Tutum Ölçeği (UCLA-GAS) ile sosyodemografik özellikler ve yaşlılığa dair sorular yer almıştır. Bulgular: Örnekleme %69,7'si 30 yaşın altında ve %72'si kadın olan 386 tam zamanlı aile hekimliği asistanı dahil edilmiştir. Asistanların ortalama hekimlik süreleri 4,15±2,86 yıl ve asistanlık süreleri ise 22,6±11,2 ay olarak hesaplanmıştır. Asistanların yaşlılara yönelik tutumlarının nötr-hafif olumlu olduğu görülmüştür. Uzmanlık eğitimi sırasında yapılandırılmış yaşlı sağlığı eğitimi almayan asistanların UCLA-GAS puan ortalamaları, alan asistanlara göre anlamlı düzeyde yüksek bulunmuştur (p=0,007). Sonuç ve Öneriler: Yaşlı nüfusun sağlık hizmeti almak için ilk başvuru noktası olan birinci basamak hekimlerinin olumlu tutumlarının geliştirilmesi, yaşlı nüfusun sağlıklı ve başarılı yaşlanma açısından önemlidir.

Keywords

• Yaşlı
• Sağlık personeli tutumu
• Aile hekimliği
• Yaşlı ayrımcılığı
• Yaşlılar için sağlık hizmeti
• Geriartri

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