EDUCATING MEDICAL-STUDENTS IN GERIATRIC-MEDICINE - THE CHRISTCHURCH EXPERIENCE

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.