Study of the problems of ageism and assessment of attitudes towards age in the medical environment

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ageism pervades all areas of life, including the areas of medical and social care. Gerontological ageism has a significant negative impact on indicators of physical, mental health, functional status and well-being of older people. In the conditions of an aging society, the study of the scale and characteristics of this problem in various spheres of life is very relevant.

AIM: To assess the prevalence of stereotypes of attitudes towards older age among primary health care physicians, senior students of a medical university and directly elderly people.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the period from 2018 to 2022, 538 people aged 20 to 75 were interviewed in 3 subgroups: 1) senior students of a medical university of medical specialties, 2) young and middle-aged primary health care doctors, 3) elderly people.

RESULTS: It was revealed that the opinions about the problems in this age period in the elderly and the beliefs of doctors and medical students often do not coincide.

CONCLUSIONS: When training medical personnel, it is necessary to form the correct attitude to age and skills of communicative competence with different age groups of patients.

About the authors

Marina S. Grigorovich

Kirov State Medical University

Author for correspondence.
Email: grigorovich-mari@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2485-396X
SPIN-code: 7488-0422
Scopus Author ID: 55532821900

MD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Assistant Professor

Russian Federation, Kirov

Elena Y. Vychugzhanina

Kirov State Medical University

Email: elen.obuhowa@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3017-0126
SPIN-code: 8004-3997

MD, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Assistant Professor

Russian Federation, Kirov

Elizaveta M. Limonova

Kirov State Medical University

Email: limoninskay@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0007-8960-4829
SPIN-code: 3936-1056
Russian Federation, Kirov

Karine D. Guloyan

Kirov State Medical University

Email: kf25@kirovgma.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0006-2559-0045
SPIN-code: 2830-4460
Russian Federation, Kirov

Anastasia A. Podushkina

Kirov State Medical University

Email: podushkina98@inbox.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-1217-6676
SPIN-code: 7714-8766
Russian Federation, Kirov

Irina A. Gvozdeva

Kirov State Medical University

Email: kf25@kirovgma.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0009-9428-8407
SPIN-code: 6361-5891
Russian Federation, Kirov

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. Results of answers to the question about the relationship between age and memory problems

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3. Fig. 2. Results of answers to the question about the presence of difficulties associated with driving a car at an older age

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4. Fig. 3. Results of responses to the question about the frequency of contacting medical organizations with older patients

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5. Fig. 4. Results of responses to the question about the presence of sexual problems in older people

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6. Fig. 5. The results of responses to the question about the decrease in mood, feelings of sadness in the elderly

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7. Fig. 6. Results of responses to the question about difficulties in paying bills among older people

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8. Fig. 7. Results of answers to the question about the difficulties of acquiring new skills among older people

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9. Fig. 8. Results of responses to the question about financial difficulties in older people

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