Physician's attitudes toward the ill aged and nursing homes

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics
• Medical Education
• Healthcare Quality

Background:

• Physician attitudes towards the elderly and nursing homes may influence care quality.
• Limited geriatric medicine exposure in medical education is a concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if physicians' attitudes predict the quality of medical care for nursing home patients.
• To assess physician preparedness and engagement in geriatric care.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 302 private practice physicians (excluding pediatricians) in a New York metropolitan suburban city.
• Analysis of response data from 28% of surveyed physicians, including psychiatrists, primary care physicians, and orthopedists.

Main Results:

• Many physicians felt competent with the ill aged but lacked formal geriatric training (50% overall, 70% in primary care).
• A significant portion (40%) viewed nursing homes as places to die, and few felt involved post-placement (21%).
• Primary care and older physicians were more likely to treat nursing home patients.

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest a generalized medical disinterest in the care of institutionalized chronically ill elderly patients.
• Recommendations include increased attention to geriatric needs in medical school curricula and grant funding.