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Chinese Medical Students' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Willingness To Consider a Career in Geriatric Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Zhao, H; Wu, B; Shi, J; Reifsnider, E; Fan, J; Li, J; Mao, J
Published in: Teaching and learning in medicine
October 2020

Phenomenon: Ageism is a significant social issue, especially in China. Ageism adversely affects willingness to consider a career in geriatric medicine. However, few studies have examined this topic among Chinese medical students. This study aimed to investigate attitudes toward older people among medical students in China, examine the factors related to these attitudes, and determine the relationships between attitudes and willingness to consider geriatric medicine as a career after graduation. Approach: Responses from 1,022 Chinese medical students were included in the analyses. Students provided demographic information and completed the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA). The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 24.0 (IBM SPSS Corp). Findings: The mean score of the FSA was 64.42 ± 6.58. Multiple regression analysis showed that the significant predictors of ageism were being male, longer years of training in medical school, and no caregiving experiences with older adults during clinical practice (R2 = .038, F = 13.520, p < .001). Students who had higher FSA scores were more unwilling to consider a career in geriatric medicine after graduation (t = 4.281, p < .001, Cohen's d = .268). Insights: Chinese medical students have fewer positive attitudes toward older adults than what has been reported in other countries. Future studies should examine the determinants of ageism among medical students in various cultures to guide the development, implementation, and assessment of interventions designed to nurture a more positive attitude toward older adults and increase willingness to consider a career in geriatric medicine.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Teaching and learning in medicine

DOI

EISSN

1532-8015

ISSN

1040-1334

Publication Date

October 2020

Volume

32

Issue

5

Start / End Page

486 / 493

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Students, Medical
  • Medical Informatics
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Female
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Career Choice
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Zhao, H., Wu, B., Shi, J., Reifsnider, E., Fan, J., Li, J., & Mao, J. (2020). Chinese Medical Students' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Willingness To Consider a Career in Geriatric Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 32(5), 486–493. https://doi.org/10.1080/10401334.2020.1784739
Zhao, Huimin, Bei Wu, Jing Shi, Elizabeth Reifsnider, Junyao Fan, Jie Li, and Jing Mao. “Chinese Medical Students' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Willingness To Consider a Career in Geriatric Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Teaching and Learning in Medicine 32, no. 5 (October 2020): 486–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/10401334.2020.1784739.
Zhao H, Wu B, Shi J, Reifsnider E, Fan J, Li J, et al. Chinese Medical Students' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Willingness To Consider a Career in Geriatric Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Teaching and learning in medicine. 2020 Oct;32(5):486–93.
Zhao, Huimin, et al. “Chinese Medical Students' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Willingness To Consider a Career in Geriatric Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Teaching and Learning in Medicine, vol. 32, no. 5, Oct. 2020, pp. 486–93. Epmc, doi:10.1080/10401334.2020.1784739.
Zhao H, Wu B, Shi J, Reifsnider E, Fan J, Li J, Mao J. Chinese Medical Students' Attitudes toward Older Adults and Willingness To Consider a Career in Geriatric Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Teaching and learning in medicine. 2020 Oct;32(5):486–493.

Published In

Teaching and learning in medicine

DOI

EISSN

1532-8015

ISSN

1040-1334

Publication Date

October 2020

Volume

32

Issue

5

Start / End Page

486 / 493

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Students, Medical
  • Medical Informatics
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Female
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Career Choice