[Elderly patients in family practice: a contribution to gerontologic attitude research]

184 family doctors responded to a questionnaire concerning their attitudes toward female geriatric patients. They were questioned about their attitudes in general towards these patients and, in particular, towards patients suffering from hypertension and coronary heart disease. Attitude scores were gained from two attitude scales. The results did not confirm the existence of negative stereotypes as predicted in the theory of "professional ageism". In our sample subjects showed a mainly neutral to positive attitude when regarding geriatric patients in general, the only negative aspects being heightened inflexibility and reduced cognitive abilities. In addition, we found a correlation between positive attitudes and the variables of quality of doctor-patient contact and specialized training in geriatric care. The attitudes towards specific patients were even more positive. When comparing patients with hypertension or coronary heart disease, we found that these groups were treated differently by the doctors: hypertension patients are seen in a more positive light and in fact require less therapeutic effort. Therefore, contrary to the theory that professional ageism results in less therapeutical attention, it would appear that it is influenced by the doctors' attitudes toward the disease and not just the geriatric patients in general.