Knowledge and attitudes toward the elderly among medical students from different academic years and residents in family medicine and internal medicine at Trakya University Faculty of Medicine

Demographic transition leads to an increase in the proportion of elderly individuals within the population. In consideration of medical workforce planning, all physicians are expected to encounter older patients more frequently. Therefore, it is of great importance to increase their level of knowledge and supporting positive attitudes toward older individuals. This study was conducted to evaluate the differences in knowledge and attitudes toward the elderly among first-, fourth-, and sixth-year medical students and resident physicians in family medicine and internal medicine at Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, and to examine their relationships with socio-demographic variables. The study was performed with 434 participants in the Spring Semester of the 2023-2024 Academic Year using a questionnaire of 45 questions, including 31 literature-based questions and 14 questions from the UCLA Geriatrics Attitudes Scale. More positive attitudes were observed in family medicine residents compared to internal medicine residents; in women compared to men; in those raised in extended families compared to those raised in nuclear families; in those who had more frequent contact with their grandparents compared to those who had less; in those who had lived with an elderly individual over the age of 65 at some point in their lives compared to those who had not; in those who expressed interest in geriatric care for their future academic career compared to those who did not; and in those who stated that they love their profession compared to those who stated they somewhat or do not enjoy it. Regarding knowledge levels about the elderly, groups with greater clinical experience had significantly higher correct response rates for questions related to patient management and clinical practice. No significant difference in knowledge levels was found between family medicine and internal medicine residents.