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Medical students’ attitudes toward people with dementia: an international investigation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2013

Ellen StClair Tullo  and
Tony Johnstone Young
Ellen StClair Tullo*
Affiliation:
Newcastle National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre in Ageing, Newcastle University, UK
Tony Johnstone Young
Affiliation:
School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Ellen StClair Tullo, Biomedical Research Building, Institute for Ageing and Health, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle University, NE4 5PL, UK. Phone: +(44) 191-2481100. Email: ellen.tullo@ncl.ac.uk.
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Abstract

Background:

The changing demographics of societies mean that medical students worldwide must be sufficiently prepared to care competently for patients with dementia through development of appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitudes. No previous research had explored undergraduate medical students’ attitudes toward people with dementia.

Methods:

An adapted version of the Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire (ADQ) was completed by 501 medical undergraduates in years 1, 3, and 5 of their degree programs in the UK and Malaysia. Non-parametric statistical analysis focused on any differences between year groups and geographical locations.

Results:

The mean ADQ response indicated a generally positive attitude across the sample, comparable with other healthcare professionals previously surveyed. Year 3 and year 5 students expressed significantly more positive attitudes than year 1 students. Year 1 students based in the UK expressed significantly more positive attitudes than year 1 student based in Malaysia, but there were no significant differences between year 3 students based in different locations.

Conclusion:

The more positive attitudes found amongst year 3 and year 5 students compared to year 1 may be a result of teaching emphasizing a person-centered approach. The differences between entry-level students from Malaysia and the UK may reflect variance in cultural norms and expectations, or the ADQ's “Western” origin. Medical schools aiming to equip students with dementia-specific skills and knowledge can draw on the generally positive attitudes found in this study.

Keywords

educationtrainingcross-cultural
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 165 - 171
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2013 

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