| Attitudes of first-year medical students in Singapore towards older people and willingness to consider a career in geriatric medicine. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 19082202 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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INTRODUCTION: Training of future physicians in the care of elderly patients will need to evolve in accordance with the exponential increase of elderly patients, but some may have preconceived attitudes affecting their management. This study determined medical students' attitudes towards older people and their willingness to consider a career in Geriatric Medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All 250 first-year medical students, prior to any formal clinical exposure at the National University of Singapore School of Medicine, were asked to participate voluntarily in the study based on the UCLA Geriatrics Attitudes Scale. The 14-item questionnaire consisted of a mixture of positively and negatively worded questions answered on a 5-point Likert scale. A fifteenth question enquired about their willingness to consider Geriatric Medicine as a potential career choice. RESULTS: The mean UCLA attitudes score was 3.58 [+/-standard deviation (SD), 0.41] suggesting a generally positive attitude. There was a strong association between attitude scores and willingness to consider Geriatric Medicine as a career (R = 0.48, P <001). However, only one third of the cohort was willing to consider a career in Geriatric Medicine. There was no difference in attitude scores between male and female students, but females were significantly more likely to consider Geriatric Medicine as a potential career choice. CONCLUSION: First-year medical students in Singapore have a generally positive attitude towards older people, although only 1 in 3 persons was willing to consider a career in Geriatric Medicine. Higher attitude scores and female gender were the main predictors of willingness to consider a career in Geriatric Medicine. |
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Authors:
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Melvin P W Chua; Chay Hoon Tan; Reshma Merchant; Roy L Soiza |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore Volume: 37 ISSN: 0304-4602 ISO Abbreviation: Ann. Acad. Med. Singap. Publication Date: 2008 Nov |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-12-16 Completed Date: 2009-04-07 Revised Date: 2009-06-12 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7503289 Medline TA: Ann Acad Med Singapore Country: Singapore |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 947-51 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Geriatric Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore. melchua@nhs.net |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adult Aged Attitude of Health Personnel* Career Choice* Education, Medical / ethics Female Geriatrics / education* Humans Male Physician-Patient Relations / ethics Professional-Patient Relations Prospective Studies Questionnaires Schools, Medical Sex Factors Singapore Students, Medical / psychology* Young Adult |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2009 Mar;38(3):286
[PMID:
19347090
]
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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