GERONTOLOGY & GERIATRICS EDUCATION最新文献

The Enhancing Undergraduate Education and Research in Aging to Eliminate Health Disparities (ENGAGED) program takes advantage of the broad, multidisciplinary research established in the area of aging at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and its partner institutions, Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University. The ENGAGED program is designed to provide undergraduate students who are underrepresented in the biomedical sciences an opportunity to participate in educational and research training in aging and health disparities. Funded since August 2019, ENGAGED has provided 73 academic year internships and 46 summer internships, with another 8 internships starting in Fall 2023. A total of 61 students (67% female, 64% African American, 21% Hispanic) have participated in the ENGAGED program, reflecting the fact that 49% participate in more than one session or program offering. To date, 38 of the ENGAGED trainees have graduated (100% with a science, technology, engineering, or math degree), 84% of whom are working or pursuing advanced degrees in the biomedical sciences. Given the unique strengths, existing infrastructure, and long-standing collaborations among the partner institutions, the ENGAGED program is helping advance diversity in aging and health disparities research by creating a pipeline for well-trained underrepresented students interested in biomedical research careers.

Older Texans living in rural areas may face challenges in accessing resources and services not felt by their urban counterparts, especially related to fall risk reduction. In a state the size of Texas, entities wishing to serve these individuals encounter barriers due to the vast geography that must be covered to reach rural communities. This paper explores a novel partnership between a university and a community organization to work toward rural equity in fall risk reduction education in Texas. We apply the Interactive and Contextual Model of Community-University Collaboration to describe efforts to gain entry into rural communities, develop and sustain the partnership, recognize outcomes, and resolve threats. Through shared decision-making and co-creation, we show how university-community partnerships can be a powerful tool for promoting rural equity and ensuring older, rural Texans have access to fall risk reduction education.

LGBTQ+ older adults experience health disparities disproportionately and face age, sexual identity, and gender identity discrimination, yet education is lacking amongst health care professionals. Virtual reality (VR) is a potential tool to combat prejudice and unrecognized bias in clinicians, which is imperative for improving care for marginalized populations. We implemented a multimodal workshop on the care of LGBTQ+ older adults using case-based learning (Aquifer Geriatrics), VR simulation (Embodied Labs), and a discussion with LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinators. A retrospective pre and post survey was collected to ascertain the workshop's effect on learner confidence and knowledge of caring for this population, along with the effectiveness of VR in medical education. Responses were measured on a Likert scale of 1-10, with improvement measured by comparing the increase in scores before and after training. The post survey included an open-ended prompt regarding intent to use learning. The workshop was held 3 times with 33 survey respondents. Results indicated significantly increased knowledge/confidence in all areas. Free text data analysis identified ways respondents intended to apply the learning in everyday work. These findings suggest this workshop was considered an effective teaching strategy that improved confidence and knowledge, and channeled empathy for this underrepresented population.

The Summer of Translational Aging Research for Undergraduates (STAR U) program, funded by the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association, aims to enhance diversity in aging research through undergraduate education. This evaluation assesses the program's effectiveness in fostering a diverse cohort of scientists from underrepresented backgrounds. Forty-eight (96%) of 50 alumni completed a survey between April and August 2023. The survey collected demographic data, educational/career goals, program experiences, and post-program outcomes, including continued education and scientific engagement. Ninety-one percent of respondents indicated that STAR U was "extremely significant" or "very significant" in influencing them to pursue a career in science, and 93% found STAR U effective in influencing pursuits in aging research. Forty-one percent were accepted or enrolled in science-related graduate programs, with half in doctoral programs. Respondents actively disseminated their research, with 10% leading or coauthoring papers for publication. PubMed shows 22 alumni (44%) have a total of 44 publications. Qualitative feedback highlighted the program's impact on career exploration, mentorship, and the supportive environment. STAR U advances diversity in the scientific workforce focused on aging research, strengthening scholars' goals for graduate education and science careers by addressing challenges and fostering a supportive environment.

With an aging population growing in size and diversity, more older adults will need support from the future geriatric workforce. Professional services will face issues related to end-of-life, making knowledge about death, grief, and loss essential. Most, however, report inadequate access to gerontological, geriatrics, or death education, particularly delivered with cultural humility. Colleges/universities can help fill this gap through formal death-and-dying-curricula, but faculty often feel unprepared to teach these sensitive topics. This study explored the experiences (e.g. lessons learned, best practices) of 27 instructors teaching death-related courses via semi-structured interviews. A consistent concern emerged among faculty regarding limited resources on cultural diversity. This prompted a post-hoc analysis of the existing data via a deductive content analytic approach to explore how a culturally responsive-sustaining (CR-S) education framework could inform future work. Evidence to support all four principles of CR-S emerged and three additional principles were identified that may build on the CR-S framework. Findings emphasize the need for more culturally relevant materials and multidisciplinary course delivery. We offer actionable suggestions for integrating cultural humility into death education and advocate for amplifying diverse voices in the field.

Older adults often have complex medical and psychosocial health-care needs, and graduating medical students frequently feel ill-equipped to adequately address these issues. Frontiers in Aging (FiA) is a 4-week geriatric medicine elective for senior medical students pursuing various specialties that care for older adults. The curriculum centers around a healthy man in his 60s who develops comorbidities as he ages. Interdisciplinary team members deliver this curriculum based on geriatric medicine competencies. Dynamic evidence-based medicine sessions employ interactive instructional methods and integrate necessary residency skills. The course has been delivered for 6 years, two of which were virtual due to COVID-19. Pre- and post-course surveys assessed curricular feasibility, utility, and acceptability. One hundred sixty students enrolled across 3 years with nearly 90% completion of each survey. Respondents indicated that 97% of sessions covered novel content. The evaluations revealed: (1) the course was engaging and enjoyable, (2) the course content was novel and practical, (3) the skills and information were useful for future careers across specialties. Notably, 96% (134/140) of students would choose this course again. FiA is a multimodal elective that conveys core geriatric medicine competencies to medical students pursuing various specialties and is effective for in-person and virtual formats.

Threshold concepts are key ideas that once understood, lead to fundamental shifts in knowledge that transform how people learn and understand the world. This study examines the effects of using a threshold concept approach to teach ageism and compares undergraduate students' perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors across different classes. Four entry-level gerontology courses participated; two used the threshold concept framework, while the other two employed a traditional one-time module. In-class survey data were collected from all four courses; word clouds and qualitative reflections were collected from intervention courses before and after the intervention. SPSS was used for descriptive analysis, and content analysis for qualitative data. Results indicated a shift in the intervention groups' understanding of ageism. Initially, students associated aging with negative stereotypes and physical decline, but they later developed a more nuanced view of aging, recognizing ageism's broader societal implications after the intervention. Word clouds revealed a shift from negative to more diverse descriptors of aging. The findings suggest that integrating threshold concepts into curriculum fosters irreversible changes in attitudes and perspectives toward aging, encouraging a more positive and inclusive view. Future research should explore the long-term effects of this approach and its application across other gerontological contexts.

The 2019 Age-Friendly University (AFU) Inventory and Climate Survey found respondents of a US northeast university identified involving retired faculty in university activities as an area for improvement. Guided by the AFU Principles 9 (engage actively with the university's own retired community) and 4 (promote intergenerational learning), and age-inclusivity domains of higher education (AIDHE), the objectives of this study were to identify retired and emeriti professors' areas of interest in providing intergenerational educational, research, service activities and in establishing a retired and emeriti professor association. The complete study was a sequential explanatory mixed methods study design. This study report is focused on the quantitative results component. After IRB approval, an online Qualtrics survey was sent to 315 retired and emeriti professors. Eighty-six (27.3%) participants responded to the survey. About 60% reported interest in guest lecturing either online or face-to-face, and 48% reported interest in sharing retirement experiences with students, and 79% were supportive or very supportive in establishing a retired and emeriti professors (REP) association. The descriptive analysis identified several opportunities to engage REP in intergenerational initiatives. The AFU principles and AIDHE domains are discussed in the context of REP in intergenerational relationships benefiting both students, REP, and the university.

Health care organizations and professionals are encouraged to adopt the 4Ms of age-friendly health systems to improve clinical care for older adults. This project explored chiropractic student perceptions of the 4Ms (what matters, mobility, mentation, medication) before and after a brief educational intervention. This study used a pretest, posttest design with multiple student cohorts enrolled in a required geriatrics course. Over 4 cohorts, 298 students participated in 50-minute 4Ms training and in-class discussions, 295 self-rated their 4Ms knowledge on a 5-point scale, and 182 provided written feedback. The percentage of students who self-rated their 4Ms knowledge as high/very high before versus after training were: 4Ms description (0% vs. 74.5%); 4Ms general use (0.3% vs. 66.3%); teach others about 4Ms (0% vs. 50.5%); and implement 4Ms in clinical practice (0.3% vs. 55.6%). In the written feedback, 133 students described 1 M (n = 63), 2 Ms (n = 27), 3 Ms (n = 14), 4Ms (n = 14), or the 4Ms general framework (n = 15). Feedback included examples of welcoming older adult clients, age-friendly office layout, care protocols, and changes in knowledge or confidence. Students who participated in an educational intervention reported higher 4Ms self-knowledge and identified ways to integrate 4Ms into age-friendly chiropractic care. Targeted, skills-based training may enhance 4Ms implementation into clinical practice.