Table 1 Quantitative studies investigating medical student attitudes towards older people
From: Medical student attitudes towards older people: a critical review of quantitative measures
Author | Study description | Quantitative measure of attitudes utilised | Study finding |
|---|---|---|---|
Beer et al. (2011) [10] | Cross sectional survey of students from two medical schools (1 undergraduate and 1 postgraduate course) and geriatric medicine teachers: Response rate for students 14% (208/760). Australia | UCLA-GAS | Responses of students and teachers generally similar. Teachers had more positive responses to the first 4 items of the scale |
Bernard et al. (2003) [11] ] | Non- randomised trial: 225 first and second year medical students. Intervention-healthy senior mentorship program over 2 years vs control group. USA | ASD | Attitudes improved in both cohorts, significantly more in the intervention group |
Brand et al. (2016) [12] | Mixed methodology. Qualitative plus pre and post–test: 128 first year medical students. Intervention-curriculum innovation. Australia | Modified UCLA-GAS | Positive attitude change in 8 of 13 test items |
Cheong et al. (2009) [13] | Cross sectional survey: 218 first year and 124 third year medical students. Singapore | Kogan’s Attitude To Old Person Scale (KOAP) | Positive mean attitudes |
Chua et al. (2008) [14] | Cross sectional survey: 250 first year medical students at admission. Singapore | Modified UCLA-GAS | Positive mean attitudes score |
Diachun et al. (2010) [15] | Randomised controlled study: 196 (75% response rate) third year medical students recruited. Intervention-2 week geriatric rotation vs non-geriatric rotation. Canada | Modified UCLA-GAS | The attitudes of the intervention group did not deteriorate as much as the control group |
Duke et al. (2009) [16] | Pre and post- test study: 71 first year medical students. Intervention-senior mentoring program. USA | Modified UCLA-GAS | Positive change in attitudes measured |
Eskildsen & Flacker (2009) [17] | Pre and post-test study: 129 first year medical students. Intervention-short geriatric course. USA. | UCLA-GAS | Positive change in attitudes measured |
Fields et al. (1992) [18] | Pre and post-test study: 127 fourth year medical students. Intervention-geriatrics rotation. USA | ASD | No measurable change in attitudes |
Gonzales et al. (2010) [19] | Cross sectional validity study: 199 first year (91%) and second year (9%) medical students recruited voluntarily. USA | Polizzi’s refined ASD | Validity of the instrument could not be confirmed by structural equation modelling |
Hall et al. (1997) [20] | Controlled trial, pre and post–test: 162 (63% response rate) fourth year medical students recruited. Intervention short geriatric course. USA | Modified Maxwell- Sullivan Attitudes Scale (MSAS) | No measurable change in attitudes |
Hughes et al. (2008) [21] | Cross sectional survey of students (first year), pre and post–test study(fourth year): 165 first years (99% response rate) and 70 (58% response rate) fourth year medical students. Intervention -geriatric short course in fourth year. UK | Modified UCLA-GAS | More positive attitudes in fourth year students compared with first year students. No measurable change in attitudes after the intervention |
Intrieri et al. (1993) [22] | Pre and post-test study with comparison group: 96 third year medical students. Psychiatry clinical rotation with gerontology (intervention) vs psychiatry alone (comparison group) USA | ASD | Positive change in attitudes |
Koh et al. (2012) [23] | Pre and post-test, with control: Intervention group (261) second year students, holistic curriculum in geriatric medicine. Control group (254). Singapore | Modified UCLA-GAS | Positive change in attitudes |
Lorraine et al. (1998) [24] | Pre and post-test study: 100 fourth year medical students. Intervention-Brief “ageing simulation” intervention. USA | ASD | Positive change in attitudes |
Lu et al. (2010) [25] | Pre and post- test study with comparison group: 137 (71% response rate) first year medical students. Intervention-Healthy senior mentorship. USA | ASD | No change in attitudes |
Muangpaisan, Intalapapron & Assantachai (2008) [26] | Cross sectional survey: 146 fourth year medical students (Response rate 61%) and 60 medical residents (Response rate 50%). Thailand | UCLA-GAS | Attitudes positive, no significant difference between students and graduates |
Nagoshi et al. (2008) [27] | Cohort study with comparison group: 59 medical students surveyed at beginning and end of course. Intervention-new course curriculum. USA | UCLA-GAS | No difference in attitudes between groups |
Pacala et al. (1995) [28] | Pre and post-test study with comparison group: 55 fourth year medical students. Intervention-ageing simulation workshop. USA | ASD, modified MSAS. | Positive change in attitudes. |
Roscoe et al. (2005) [29] | Pre and post-test study: 252 third year medical students (89% response rate). Intervention-short geriatrics course. USA | Modified ASD | Positive change in attitudes |
Sahin et al. (2012) [30] | Cross sectional survey: 106 health professional students, including 43 medical students, and 150 postgraduates. Turkey | Modified UCLA-GAS | Doctors had more positive attitudes than students. |
Seaman et al. (2017) [31] | Pre and post- test study: 51 volunteer health professional students, including a small number of medical students. Intervention-Inter-professional team work in an aged care facility. Australia | ASD | Positive change in attitudes, but numbers too small for significance |
Shue et al. (2005) [32] | Pre and post-test study with comparison group: 161 first year medical students. Intervention-senior mentorship program. USA | ASD, modified MSAS | Positive change in attitudes |
Stewart et al. (2007) [33] | Non-randomised controlled trial: Four sequential cohorts of 249 medical students. Intervention-new geriatric curriculum across course. USA | ASD | Neutral attitudes, no measurable difference between cohort attitudes |
Tam et al. (2014) [34] | Pre and post-test study: 60 (82% response rate) fifth year medical students. Intervention-curriculum change. Australia | UCLA-GAS | Positive change in attitudes |
Ten Haken et al. (1995) [35] | Pre and post-test longitudinal study: 117 (63% response rate) undergraduate medical students. Intervention-clinical skills course. USA | Modified ASD | No sustained change in attitudes |
Varkey et al. (2006) [36] | Pre and post-test study: 84 first year medical students. Intervention-ageing game ‘one off’ intervention. USA | MSAS, ASD | Positive change in attitudes |
Watson (2013) [37] | Cross sectional survey: 129 third to fifth year medical students. Australia | UCLA-GAS | Neutral to positive across scales |
Wilkinson, Gower, Sainsbury (2002) [38] | Pre and post-test study with comparison group: 186 second year students had intervention. 62 of this cohort were followed up in fourth year, compared with 160 controls. Intervention-community contact in second year and 4 week attachment in 4th year. New Zealand | ASD | Positive change in attitudes measured in second year and fourth year |
Wilson & Gamser (1982) [39] | Pre and post-test study: 61 first year medical students (Response rate 74%). Intervention-short geriatrics course. USA | ASD | Positive change in attitudes |
Zwahlen et al. (2010) [40] | Pre and post-test study: 347 (Response rate 81%) undergraduate medical students across the medical course. Intervention-New course curriculum. USA | UCLA-GAS | No change in attitudes |