Basic Geriatric Knowledge and Awareness Among Palestinian Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics
• Medical Education
• Public Health

Background:

• Global population aging necessitates enhanced geriatric care.
• Palestine faces a growing need for competent healthcare professionals specializing in geriatrics.
• The country currently lacks an accredited geriatrics fellowship program, indicating a gap in specialized training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current level of geriatric knowledge among physicians in Palestine.
• To establish baseline data for future geriatric curriculum reform.
• To identify specific areas of misconception regarding aging and older adults.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter study involving 378 physicians from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
• Self-administered questionnaires collected data on demographics, professional level, and prior geriatrics education.
• The Revised Facts on Aging Quiz (FAQ) was used to validate and assess physician knowledge.

Main Results:

• The mean knowledge score was 20.35±4.14 (56.5% correct), indicating foundational but incomplete understanding.
• Knowledge levels did not significantly correlate with physician age or gender.
• Physicians trained in Palestine (20.82±4.28) scored higher than those trained abroad (19.84±3.94); scores varied by professional level (p=0.025).

Conclusions:

• Physicians demonstrate moderate geriatric knowledge but hold significant misconceptions about older adults' adaptability, work capacity, and depression.
• Educational background and career stage influence geriatric competency.
• Recommendations include integrating at least 20 contact hours of geriatrics education into medical school curricula.