Medical students' attitudes to and knowledge of the aged

It is a fact that, with the increase in life expectancy, an increasing proportion of the population will consist of elderly people in future years, particularly those over 85 years of age (Bromley 1988). The provision of care for the aged is an important aspect of undergraduate medical training (Gale & Livesley 1975; Steele 1987). However, it is essential to realize that if medical practitioners do turn their attention more towards the elderly, their knowledge about the aged and their attitudes towards them are of vital importance. Moreover, studying medical students' attitudes and knowledge would be valuable for the training and education of future practitioners.