Family practice residents and the elderly: fostering positive attitudes

The population of elderly patients is steadily growing. Because physician attitudes toward caring for elderly patients are often negative, it is important to identify aspects of training that lead to favorable attitudes toward the practice of geriatrics. This study investigated the relationships among past casual experiences, educational experiences, level of training, faculty attitudes, and current resident attitudes. All Louisiana family practice residents (72) and program faculty members (35) were surveyed, with response rates of 69% and 86%, respectively. Residents generally held positive attitudes toward the elderly. Variables associated with positive resident attitudes were the amount of didactic training and faculty attitudes. No differences were found among the attitudes of residents at different levels of training. These findings highlight the importance of cognitive training and role modeling in geriatrics. Educational settings in which training occurs--classrooms, ambulatory care facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes--deserve careful consideration.