Physician confidence and interest in learning more about common geriatric topics: a needs assessment

Abstract

Objective: To assess physicians' confidence in and interest in learning more about 18 specific geriatric topics.

Design: Written survey.

Setting: Annual meetings of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

Participants: Seven hundred and fifty-eight physicians (547 ACP members, 211 AAFP members).

Measurements: For each topic, participants rated their confidence in performance, their peers' need for education, and their interest in learning more, using a five-point Likert scale.

Results: Survey participants were on average 16 years out of medical school and 61% were in a community primary care practice that included many geriatric patients on a primarily fee-for-service basis. High levels of interest in learning more about dementia, functional assessment, urinary incontinence, and sensory impairment were found. A substantial correlation (r =.44, P <.0001) between the proportion of seniors reported in the physicians' practice and confidence in performance in the areas surveyed was identified.

Conclusions: These findings provide useful information on the physician-learner's perception of needs, which is important in the design of effective continuing education efforts in geriatrics.