Ten years' experience teaching geriatric medicine.

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine Education
• Medical School Curriculum Development
• Healthcare Professional Training

Background:

• The Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's Faculty of Health Sciences recognized the need for specialized geriatric training.
• Existing medical, nursing, and physiotherapy programs lacked comprehensive geriatric components.
• Geriatric medicine is increasingly vital due to a growing elderly population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a 6-year geriatric medicine curriculum for medical students.
• To extend similar training to nursing and physiotherapy students.
• To foster a positive and comprehensive approach to elder care among future healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• Developed a comprehensive curriculum covering communication, biology of aging, clinical problems, and patient management.
• Utilized facilities at Soroka Medical Center, including its Department of Geriatrics, Home Care Unit, and Home for the Aged.
• Integrated training across medical, nursing, and physiotherapy programs.

Main Results:

• Student attitudes toward the elderly were positive initially but showed a decline by the fourth year.
• This attitude shift is potentially linked to exposure to negative role models during clinical years.
• The curriculum successfully introduced key concepts like multidisciplinary teamwork and community-oriented care.

Conclusions:

• The geriatric medicine curriculum is a crucial step in training healthcare professionals for an aging population.
• Addressing negative role models and societal stigma is essential to maintain positive attitudes towards geriatrics.
• National trends supporting geriatrics as a specialty and departmental development are promising for the field's future.