[Geriattract: attractiveness of the geriatrics specialty to medical students - A prospective survey].

Abstract

To identify stereotypes and preconceived ideas about aging and the attractiveness of geriatrics among medical students, and to assess the impact of a clinical placement in geriatrics on these perceptions. This observational, prospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted from November 2023 to June 2024. Medical students from the 2nd to the 6th year were asked to complete two questionnaires: one on the first day of their geriatrics internship and another on the last day. The surveys assessed preconceived notions about aging and the specialty, with results compared before and after the internship. Of the 190 students who completed the first questionnaire, 134 responded to the second. Seventy-five percent of respondents were women, and 72% were in their 4th year, with 28% having prior experience in geriatrics. Initially, 78% of students believed that age limited medical care, compared to 41% after the internship (p < 0,001). The percentage of students who attributed older adults' health problems to natural aging decreased from 59% to 37% (p < 0,001). Before the internship, 27% thought all complementary tests could be performed on the older adults, rising to 49% afterward (p = 0,01). Sixteen percent of students initially had a negative image of older adults, compared to 6.8% after the placement (p < 0,01). Regarding the specialty itself, 31% considered geriatrics boring before the internship, which dropped to 9.7% afterward (p < 0,001). The perception of geriatrics as focused on chronic diseases decreased from 40% to 25% (p = 0,024). Overall, 85% of students saw their perception evolve, and 92% felt that early exposure to geriatrics was beneficial, up from 83% (p < 0,001). The intention to choose geriatrics increased from 10% to 16%, though without statistical significance. The study highlights key misconceptions about aging and demonstrates that clinical internships in geriatrics can significantly shift perceptions, making the specialty more appealing to medical students.