Successful management of the elderly patient is related in part to how effectively he and members of the health care team can communicate with each other. If comprehension and/or expressive abilities are impaired, as they frequently are in the geriatric population, then efficient patient management becomes difficult. Unfortunately, this difficulty…

A study of recent dental school graduates' attitudes toward the elderly suggests that those attitudes may have little to do with formal dental curriculum elements in geriatric dentistry, and that newly trained professionals' attitudes do not differ greatly from those of professionals trained before geriatric dental curriculum was widespread. (MSE)

Results of a survey of geriatric dentistry specialists concerning the competencies required of geriatric dentists and the relative importance of those skills in five settings (dental school, general practice residency, prosthodontic specialty programs, geriatric fellowship programs, and continuing education) are reported. (MSE)

A comparison of the effectiveness of a multimedia instructional module and traditional lecture format, using the pretest-posttest control group experiment design, found the two to be equally effective in teaching content in geriatric pharmacy. (MSE)

Reports on the results of a systematic assessment of the interpersonal difficulties encountered by in-home service providers serving the frail elderly. Presents a typology of problematic interpersonal situations, along with suggestions for training, assessment, and supervision of clients and workers. (JAC)

Reviews family support to the elderly in America. The seven articles discuss stress factors affecting caregivers, helping behavior of adult children, racial and cohort variables, the family as a support resource in nursing home care, and improving helping skills. (JAC)

Pharmacists (N=233) responded to the question "What is the most difficult aspect of geriatric pharmacy practice?" Most commonly cited problems were (1) inadequate professional skills or knowledge in geriatrics; (2) patient compliance; (3) physician functioning (including overprescribing of medications); (4) communication with the elderly; (5) lack…

A program undertaken to assess the feasibility of incorporating gerontology and geriatrics into the first- and second-year curriculum at a family medicine-oriented medical school is described, and student reactions are discussed. It is recommended that the teaching of gerontology and geriatrics begin the first year. (Author/MLW)

Describes the development and implementation of a new standardized patient program in a required geriatrics clinical clerkship for fourth-year medical students. A student survey was also conducted. The standardized patient program provided students with direct feedback on their clinical skills--76% of the students favored the program. (RJM)

This study compared the changes in some bio-psychosocial variables (functional independence, nutritional risk, pain, balance and walking, grip strength, general well-being, psychiatric profile, perception of social support, leisure satisfaction, and caregivers' feeling of burden) in four categories of clients during their program at a geriatric…

Purpose: This study examined medical students' interest in geriatrics: Are knowledge, positive attitudes, and prior experience with older adults associated with an interest in geriatric medicine? Design and Methods: Entering University of Michigan medical students completed three surveys: the Revised Facts on Aging Quiz, the University of…

This study examines the impact of an interdisciplinary training program on knowledge and attitudes of learners from four health care programs: medicine, pharmacy, social work, and nursing. Sixty-two learners participated in a 4-day educational program (one day each week for 4 weeks) focusing on interdisciplinary geriatric care. After completing…

The effectiveness of various procedures in maintaining attendance at activities of residents at a geriatric facility was examined. A special, intermittently programmed or delayed consequence for attendance was added to regularly scheduled activities. Attendance at activities with and without the consequence was compared. Later, antecedent events…

This study reports an experimentally designed evaluation of Reality Orientation. Twelve elderly residents were chosen for the experimental group and 13 residents were chosen for the no-treatment control group. Both classroom Reality Orientation and 24-hour Reality Orientation were introduced on the experimental floor. A pretest-posttest control…

The project investigated the effectiveness of an evironmental therapy training program for geriatric mental health workers when used in two different institutional settings. Site A was a State-operated facility for psychiatric in-patient care, accommodating 2,000 patients, with emphasis on maintenance and general patient welfare. Site B, a former…