Journal of the Bahrain Medical Society
Year 2020, Volume 32, Issue 2, Pages 17-25
https://doi.org/10.26715/jbms.32_2020_2_3Adel Salman AlSayyad1, Samya Bahram2, Fatima Hasan Al Nooh3*, Farishtah Frotin4, Zahra Al Herz5, Mariam Mandeel6
1Consultant Family Medicine, Epidemiology & Public Health; Chief of Disease Control Section, PHD, MOH; Associate Prof. of Family and community Medicine, CMMS, AGU; Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain
2Consultant Family Physician; Consultant Medical Tutor- Family Residency Program and AGU; Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain
3Senior Family Physician, Part time Medical Tutor - Family Residency Program and RCSI; Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain
4Consultant Family Physician; Consultant Medical Tutor- Family Residency Program and RCSI, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain
5General Doctor; Part time Tutor AGU, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain
6Family Physician Residency Program Resident, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain
*Corresponding author:
Dr. Fatima Hasan Al Nooh, Senior Family Physician, Part time Medical Tutor - Family Residency Programand RCSI; Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain; Tel. No.: Mobile (+973) 39663383; Email: ffalnooh@gmail.com
Received date: January 9, 2020; Accepted date: June 9, 2020; Published date: June 30, 2020
Abstract
Background: With the increase in the elderly population worldwide there is an increased likelihood of developing health problems, and therefore an increased demand for provision of a high standard of care. This places the emphasis on improved knowledge and commitment to work with older people as well as a demonstration of appropriate attitude when dealing with elderly patients to achieve improved quality of care. The study aimed to assess Primary Health Care Physicians' knowledge of ageing, their attitude towards geriatric population and possible contributing factors that affect their knowledge and attitude.
Methods: The cross sectional study was carried out on three hundred and fifty-one Primary Healthcare physicians using a self-answered modified “Facts on Ageing” questionnaire for knowledge assessment, and the University of California at Los Angeles Geriatric attitude scale (UCLA-GAS) to assess their attitudes.
Results: A total of 237 primary health care doctors responded and filled in the questionnaire representing 67.5% of all PHC doctors working in the Ministry of Health in Bahrain. The key findings showed that the average percentage of the knowledge score of the participants was 57.3%. Statistically insignificant results were noted with respect to the participants’ characteristics and level of knowledge. A significant number of the participating physicians had a neutral attitude towards the elderly population, with no statistical significance noted when an association with the physicians' characteristics were studied.
Conclusion: This study was the first to be conducted in the Kingdom of Bahrain to assess the knowledge and attitude of primary health care physicians towards the elderly population. It aimed to identify the gaps in knowledge, improve and encourage a more positive attitude and ultimately achieve a high standard of care towards the elderly population.
Keywords: Attitude; Characteristics; Factors; Family physicians; Geriatrics; Knowledge