An age-friendly residency: Geriatrician and internist perspectives on geriatric education in an internal medicine residency

Background: General internists and subspecialists need skills to deliver age-friendly care to older adults, yet a minority of Internal Medicine (IM) residency programs provide robust geriatric-specific clinical instruction. We sought to explore internist and geriatrician perspectives regarding current strengths and weakness of geriatric education, and perceived supports, barriers, and strategies to enhance geriatric education in an IM residency program.Methods: Using social learning theory as a conceptual framework, we conducted a needs assessment using focus groups and semi-structured interviews with IM residency leadership and geriatricians at an academic medical center. Interviews were recorded and transcribed; thematic analysis was performed on deidentified transcripts.Results: We recruited faculty by e-mail in 2021; eight geriatricians and seven internists participated (60% female, 13% Hispanic/Latino, and 73% White). Six participated in two virtual focus groups and nine participated in virtual one-on-one interviews. All had at least monthly teaching contact with residents and six were associate program directors. We identified five key themes: (1) professional role models, (2) personal attitudes toward aging, (3) the powerful influence of patients, (4) clinical complexity of geriatrics, and (5) branding and prestige of the field. Participants offered multiple suggestions for improvement, especially faculty development for non-geriatrician faculty.Conclusions: Geriatric education for IM residents is impacted by multiple factors, but uniformly viewed as important. Moving forward, programs could capitalize on opportunities for closer collaboration between residency leadership, internists, and geriatricians to train the next generation of IM residency graduates to deliver age-friendly care.

Automated summary

This study explored the current status and weaknesses of geriatric education for internal medicine residents, and identified potential strategies for improvement. Through focus groups and interviews, the researchers collected perspectives and suggestions from internists and geriatricians. The importance of geriatric education was universally recognized, but the quality of education was influenced by multiple factors. Closer collaboration and training could help train the next generation of internal medicine residents to deliver age-friendly care.