Be. Robinson et al., Physician confidence and interest in learning more about common geriatric topics: A needs assessment, J AM GER SO, 49(7), 2001, pp. 963-967
Citations number
6
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science","General & Internal Medicine
OBJECTIVE: To assess physicians' confidence in and interest in learning mor
e about 18 specific geriatric topics.
DESIGN: Written survey.
SETTING: Annual meetings of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and th
e American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred and fifty-eight physicians (547 ACP members, 21
1 AAFP members).
MEASUREMENTS: For each topic, participants rated their confidence in perfor
mance, their peers' need for education, and their interest in learning more
, using a five-point Likert scale.
RESULTS: Survey participants were on average 16 years out of medical school
and 61% were in a community primary care practice that included many geria
tric patients on a primarily fee-for-service basis. High levels of interest
in learning more about dementia, functional assessment, urinary incontinen
ce, and sensory impairment were found. A substantial correlation (r =.44, P
< .0001) between the proportion of seniors reported in the physicians' pra
ctice and confidence in performance in the areas surveyed was identified.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide useful information on the physician-lea
rner's perception of needs, which is important in the design of effective c
ontinuing education efforts in geriatrics.