Approach to geriatric patients of family pyhsicians

Background and Aim: Geriatric patients require a complementary approach involving medical, social, psychological and ethical considerations. In addition, the practice of preventive physicians have great importance. With the development of technology, 'quality aging' is on the agenda. The education of physicians in primary health care is very important for the diagnosis and treatment of patients over the age of 65, the protection of the health of the people, the continuity of their lives without being abstracted from society, the practice of preventive medicine and multidisciplinary evaluation. In this study, it is aimed to emphasize the importance of geriatric patient evaluation of primary health care. Materials and Methods: This thesis primarily adopted by Gaziantep University Medical Faculty Board of Ethics, scientifically and ethically, in March 2017, after that the permissions required were taken from Gaziantep Public Health Directorate for the work to be carried out and then research was initiated. 214 volunteer Family Physicians working in city center of Gaziantep were participated in the study, between May 2017 and August 2017. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their demographic situations and approaches to geriatric patients. The data obtained was evaluated by using the SPSS 22.0 statistical program. Results: The 214 physicians between the ages of 24-65 (median age 41) were participated to the research in two groups younger and older than 50 years old. The ratio of physicians over 50 years of age is %52,5. %69 of participants are male. According to demographic characteristics, 165 of the participants are married, 42 of the participants are single, 7 of the participants are widow. %70,5 of them have children. The number of people living together with individuals aged 65 years and over is 33, and 57.6% of these people lead a center where there is a geriatric department. While the proportion of physicians who have geriatric education is 31%, it is 62.6% for the physicians under 50 years old. It has been seen that having a geriatric education is more effective for questioning polypharmacy and especially reduction of medication and directing patients to a center where there is a department of geriatrics. Physicians who are married and have children have been found to be more susceptible to vaccination of elderly individuals (respectively %78,2, %79,5). Conclusions: According to present study, older than 50 years physicians and female physicians were found more sensitive and willing in most of preventive medicine practices. Given importance to the health of the elderly people with primary health care and successful implementation of prevention medicine practices will provide reduction of morbidity of geriatric age group due to diseases, so it will decrease the need for hospitalization and cost of health care. The importance of geriatrics education taken by physicians working in the primary care is significant. Keywords: Geriatric Education, Family Medicine, Primary Care Physicians