T. Wilkinson et R. Sainsbury, EDUCATING MEDICAL-STUDENTS IN GERIATRIC-MEDICINE - THE CHRISTCHURCH EXPERIENCE, Australian journal on ageing, 17(3), 1998, pp. 115-119
A five week program in geriatric medicine for fourth (first clinical)
year medical students is described which is not only regarded as valua
ble by the students but has been shown to result in lasting beneficial
effects on attitudes to the elderly. The program structure differs fr
om some other courses in geriatric medicine. Possible reasons for its
value and effectiveness include (1) teaching by committed and speciali
sed staff, (2) seeing the elderly within a therapeutic environment whi
ch includes sufficient time for students to see the benefits of interv
ention, (3) the involvement of allied health professionals, (4) small
group and patient based teaching and (5) a community focus which inclu
des seeing people in their own homes and which emphasises the importan
ce of the social context in a person's illness.