Physician Assistant Studentsʼ Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Aging and Geriatric Medicine

Abstract

Purpose: While existing physician assistant (PA) literature cites the need for more geriatric education to address the increasing demand in this field, there are no data on PA students’ knowledge of aging, their attitudes toward geriatric care, or how knowledge, attitudes, and experience with the elderly may be related to interest in geriatric medicine. The goal of this study was to provide an initial assessment of these constructs and to compare our results to similar analyses conducted with other health care professionals. Methods: Eighty-five PA students from two separate MPA programs were surveyed at the conclusion of their professional studies. The two programs had different geriatric exposure and curricula. The survey instrument included the Palmore Facts on Aging Quiz (FAQ1), Maxwell-Sullivan Attitude ScaleRevised, and questions to assess experience with older adults and level of interest in geriatric medicine. Results: Knowledge of aging was low (FAQ1: 45.8%+11.5%), yet commensurate with a level achieved by other health care professional students on the FAQ1. Interest in geriatric medicine was significantly associated with higher knowledge of aging (r=.23; p=.04), but geriatric interest was not associated with positive attitudes toward aging or prior experience with the elderly. While attitudes toward older adults were generally positive, students who had been exposed to well elderly in their clerkships demonstrated significantly more positive attitudes toward elder patient care. Conclusions: The data support the increase of geriatric education and inclusion of exposure to well elderly in order to stimulate interest and optimally prepare PA students for professional careers in geriatric medicine.