Abstract
Geriatrics has only recently been incorporated into the health science curriculum and, consequently, students continue to graduate with little or no formal training in this area. A survey of 84 rural health care professionals was conducted to determine their geriatric knowledge, their educational needs, and their preferred venue for continuing education. A variety of health care professions was represented in the sample, with the greatest representation from physicians (44%), pharmacists (15%), and nurses (14%). Approximately 39% of the sample reported above average knowledge in geriatrics and 64% indicated that they were interested in learning more about geriatrics. The three most common geriatric areas respondents were interested in included Alzheimer's disease/dementia, medication use/polypharmacy, and adverse medication events. The most preferred training materials included videotapes and CD-ROM courses, and preferred venues of educational activities were in the community or region. An interdisciplinary approach to geriatric care is the preferred method of care. In order to provide better care to the aging population, continuing medical educational opportunities in geriatrics for practicing health care professionals in rural areas need to increase and the curriculum of all health care professional students should include a sufficient geriatric component.
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