Geriatric medicine course to senior undergraduate medical students improves attitude and self-perceived competency scores

Abstract

Aims: The aims were to evaluate the effect of a 4.5-week geriatric medicine course on 5th-year medical students' attitudes and self-perceived competency scores. Student performance in the summative multiple choice questions examination in 2011 was compared with results from 2008.

Methods: Pre- and post-course attitudes (University of California, Los Angeles Attitudes Survey) and self-perceived competency surveys were administered to 65 5th-year medical students following a 4.5-week geriatric medicine course at one South Australian teaching hospital as part of course evaluation and improvement.

Results: Significant improvements in students' attitude (mean pre- and post-attitude score (± standard deviation): 3.34 (1.66) vs 3.66 (1.06); P < 0.001) and self-perceived competency (mean pre and post-competency scores: 2.89 (0.84) and 4.03 (0.56); P < 0.001) were observed. The 2011 multiple choice question results were much better than in 2008 (91.5 (3.6) vs 75.2 (7.9); P < 0.001).

Conclusions: A geriatric medicine course for senior medical students allows for improvement in attitudes and self-perceived competency scores.

Keywords: attitude; geriatric medicine; medical student; self-perceived competency.