Knowledge, Attitudes and Perception of Medical Students about Elderly Patients before and after Implementation of a New Geriatrics Curriculum

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes, knowledge and perception of medical students about elderly patients before and after implementation of a new geriatrics curriculum and to assess perceived attainment of objectives in geriatric module. Methods: This was a pre-post cohort study of seventy 6th year (first clinical year) medical students. Questionnaires were provided prior and post geriatric assessment. Utilization of common geriatric tools was taught in a tutorial and then reinforced in small group (case based) discussions. Questionnaire was mainly comprised of pre and post questions, perception of students regarding geriatric care and students’ perceived attainment of objectives from geriatric module. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.v. Data were expressed in frequencies, mean and percentages. Paired t test was used to evaluate the significant difference between pre and post responses. Results: A total of 70 students participated in the study. 14.3% were male and 85.7% were female students with mean age of 22.84 ± 1.03. The mean scale score for students’ basic understanding of geriatrics was significantly higher after completion of education program compared with scores prior to training (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 3.01-4.87) with an increase of 3.943 in the mean scale score. In the same way the mean scale score of students’ knowledge of geriatrics was statistically higher after completion of education program compared with scores prior to training (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 3.13-4.5) with an increase of 3.829 in the mean scale score. Overall students’ feedback about geriatric module at the end of rotation was good as more than two third clumped from achieved to outstandingly achieved. Conclusion: Medical students who received education during their module showed improvement in levels of knowledge about geriatrics.