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Knowledge of Aging and Attitudes Toward Older People

A Survey of Australian Podiatric Medical Students

Hylton B. Menz, PhD^*, Francis A. Stewart, BAppSc(Pod)^* and Matthew J. Oates, BPod(Hons)

^* School of Exercise and Health Sciences, College of Social and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.
Department of Podiatry, School of Human Biosciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.

Corresponding author: Hylton B. Menz, PhD, Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, High St, Randwick, New South Wales 2031, Australia.

Abstract

Podiatric medical students in Australia were surveyed to evaluate their reasons for entering podiatric medicine, knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older people, perceptions of treatment efficacy, and desire to specialize in geriatrics. Few students plan to specialize in geriatrics upon graduation (4%), with most preferring general practice (25%) or sports medicine (21%). However, knowledge of aging was good, and students had favorable attitudes toward older people and considered treatment of older people to be effective. Few age- or gender-related effects were observed. It is concluded that students’ lack of desire to specialize in geriatrics may be due not to unfavorable perceptions of older people but rather to the low profile and limited development of geriatrics as a specialty area within the podiatric medical profession. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 93(1): 11-17, 2003)

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				H. B. Menz The Influence of Geriatrics Education on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Career Aspirations of Podiatric Medical Students J Am Podiatr Med Assoc, March 1, 2003; 93(2): 124 - 130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]