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Exploring the Attitudes of General Medical Students Toward Older Adult’S Care in a Lower Middle-Income Country: Implications for Medical Education Publisher Pubmed



Nojomi M1 ; Goharinezhad S2 ; Saraei R3 ; Goharinejad S4 ; Ramezani G5, 6 ; Aalaa M7
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Preventive Medicine and Public Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Department of Community and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Faculty of Healthcare Science, Deggendorf Institute of Technology, Pfarrkirchen, Germany
  5. 5. Education Development Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
  6. 6. Center for Educational Research in Medical Sciences (CERMS), Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
  7. 7. Department of e-Learning in Medical Education, Center of Excellence for e-Learning in Medical Education, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: BMC Medical Education Published:2023


Abstract

Objective: The motivation for this study stemmed from the growing population of older adults and the increasing demand for healthcare professionals who possess the necessary skills and knowledge to provide quality care to this demographic. By exploring the attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs of medical students towards older adult care, the study aimed to identify gaps in their training and areas where improvements can be made to better equip them for this critical aspect of healthcare. Method: This study was a qualitative thematic analysis. The participants of this research were selected from among the general medicine internship students of Iran University of Medical Sciences by purposive sampling method. In-depth individual semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Sampling continued until data saturation. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Using this approach, the analysis of the data became more adaptable and open-ended, free from the restrictions of pre-existing theoretical frameworks. MAXQDA 22 was used to analyze qualitative data. Results: A total of 27 medical students were interviewed semi-structured, and audio files were transcribed immediately after the interview. In the process of reading the interviews carefully and separating the conceptual units into codes, 167 primary codes were obtained, and these codes were divided into five main categories under the title of root factors after constant comparison analysis. Five main themes are including discrimination in service delivery, a lack of inter-professional training, interpersonal communication skills, inadequate infrastructure and human resources, and enhancing attitudes towards older person care through experiential learning. Conclusion: This study sheds light on the attitudes and perceptions of medical students toward older adult care in a lower-middle-income country. The findings reveal that there are significant gaps in their training and preparation for providing quality care to this demographic profile. The four main categories identified as root factors highlight key areas where improvements can be made in medical education. It is recommended that medical schools in low and middle-income countries consider incorporating these themes into their curricula to better equip future healthcare professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide quality care to older adults. © 2023, BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.