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Community Mental Health Journal
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal 7/2020

01-10-2020 | Care | Brief Report

The Effects of Clinical Experience on Early Career Psychiatrists’ Beliefs and Attitudes Towards Older Psychiatric Patients

Authors: Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Salma Tira, Nada Ghazouani, Sana Ben Ali, Majda Cheour

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 7/2020

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Abstract

Although literature has documented widespread negative and stereotypical attitudes held by healthcare professionals towards the older adults, there is a current paucity of research about the perspective of psychiatrists. We aimed to identify the attitudes of Tunisian early career psychiatrists towards the older adults. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 71 early career psychiatrists. Data were collected through anonymous online surveys. A series of 4 point Likert-type questions ("strongly agree", "somewhat agree", "somewhat disagree", "strongly disagree") asked participants about their beliefs about older patients, the characteristics of the psychiatric care of an older person and emotions related to caring for older patients. Psychiatrists agreed that the older patient: is frail and vulnerable in 64.8% of cases, does not trust his psychiatrist in 28% of cases, has problems of communication in 36.6% of the cases and shows hostile or aggressive behavior in 5.6% of the cases. A multivariate binary logistic regression analysis found that clinical experience would play an independent role in predicting the following beliefs and attitudes of early career psychiatrists towards older patients: the belief that the older patient often has perceptual disorders that he is fragile and vulnerable, that he often requires polypharmacy, and that his management exposes the psychiatrist to painful emotional experiences. Given the population aging, early career psychiatrists need to be equipped with skills to fulfil significant roles in responding to future health and support needs. Integrating clinical training in psychogeriatrics into the psychiatric curriculum is strongly recommended.
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Metadata
Title
The Effects of Clinical Experience on Early Career Psychiatrists’ Beliefs and Attitudes Towards Older Psychiatric Patients
Authors
Feten Fekih-Romdhane
Salma Tira
Nada Ghazouani
Sana Ben Ali
Majda Cheour
Publication date
01-10-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Keyword
Care
Published in
Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 7/2020
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00571-1

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