Medical students' and doctors' attitudes towards older patients and their care in hospital settings: a conceptualisation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

despite assertions in reports from governmental and charitable bodies that negative staff attitudes towards older patients may contribute to inequitable healthcare provision for older patients when compared with younger patients (those aged under 65 years), the research literature does not describe these attitudes in any detail.

Objective

this study explored and conceptualised attitudes towards older patients using in-depth interviews.

Methods

twenty-five semi-structured interviews with medical students and hospital-based doctors in a UK acute teaching hospital were conducted. Participants were asked about their beliefs, emotions and behavioural tendencies towards older patients, in line with the psychological literature on the definition of attitudes (affe

SUBMITTER: Samra R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4547928 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature