Perceptions and experiences of geriatric medicine among European medical students: findings from a multinational online survey

Abstract Background Europe’s population is ageing. Therefore, all medical students should receive basic geriatric medicine education. It is essential to gain insights into their perceived educational needs and attitudes towards geriatric medicine. Aims To explore: medical students’ perceived knowledge, relevance, and interest across key geriatric topics and skills; their aspirations to become a geriatrician and interest in geriatric medicine. Methods We analysed data from the multinational multilingual open online cross-sectional survey on educational needs by COST Action PROmoting GeRiAtric Medicine in countries where it is still eMergING (PROGRAMMING) 21,122. Medical students were asked to rate their perceived knowledge, the relevance to their profession and their interest in further training in each of 33 geriatric topics or skills, from “very low” (scored as 1) to “very high” (scored as 5). They were also asked about their exposure to and attitudes towards geriatric medicine. Results A total of 448 medical students-274 (61.2%) women, 238 (53.1%) studying in EU-27 countries- completed the survey. Students’ mean (standard deviation, SD) perceived knowledge was highest in bone health (3.53, 0.86), depression (3.17, 0.93), and falls and mobility (3.16, 0.94), while lowest in gerodontology (2.14, 1.06), geriatric rehabilitation (2.45, 0.95), and orthogeriatrics (2.54, 0.99). Overall, 312 (69.7%) students reported exposure to geriatric medicine through specific courses and 257 (57.4%) through rotations in acute hospital wards. Only 30 (7%) students wanted to become geriatricians, while 147 (32.8%) students expressed high or very high enjoyment in engaging with older people. Conclusion Medical students reported limited knowledge in several key geriatric medicine topics and skills and relatively low interest in careers in geriatric medicine. In many cases learning experiences were limited to traditional lecture-based teaching and ward-based rotations. Active learning approaches such as case-based and problem-based learning were preferred.

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Journal
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
Published
2026-09-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-026-03524-y
Primary Topic
Aging and Gerontology Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Perceptions and experiences of geriatric medicine among European medical students: findings from a multinational online survey

William McKeown, Tahir Masud, Maria Cristina Polidori, Luca Soraci et al.
Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
Aging and Gerontology Research
article

Perceptions and experiences of geriatric medicine among European medical students: findings from a multinational online survey

William McKeown, Tahir Masud, Maria Cristina Polidori, Luca Soraci, Zyta Beata Wojszel, Sumru Savaş, Giulia Ogliari, Anna Marie Herghelegiu, Tatjana Puškar, Robert W. Kupis, Serdar Özkök, Aleksandra Popovac, Grace M E Pearson, Carmelinda Ruggiero, Premtim Rashiti, Vikki O’Neill, Biljana Petreska-Zovic, Helgi Kolk, Qëndresë Daka, Naim Jerliu, Regina Roller‐Wirnsberger, Gülistan Bahat, Marian Dejaeger, Karolina Piotrowicz, Meltem Koca, Sonja Genadieva Stavrik, Sladjana S. Sobajic, Jerzy Gąsowski, Marina Kotsani, Ana Gabriela Prada, Zeynep Fetullahoğlu, Shpresa Kushaj, Roberta Vullo
article en

Abstract

Abstract Background Europe’s population is ageing. Therefore, all medical students should receive basic geriatric medicine education. It is essential to gain insights into their perceived educational needs and attitudes towards geriatric medicine. Aims To explore: medical students’ perceived knowledge, relevance, and interest across key geriatric topics and skills; their aspirations to become a geriatrician and interest in geriatric medicine. Methods We analysed data from the multinational multilingual open online cross-sectional survey on educational needs by COST Action PROmoting GeRiAtric Medicine in countries where it is still eMergING (PROGRAMMING) 21,122. Medical students were asked to rate their perceived knowledge, the relevance to their profession and their interest in further training in each of 33 geriatric topics or skills, from “very low” (scored as 1) to “very high” (scored as 5). They were also asked about their exposure to and attitudes towards geriatric medicine. Results A total of 448 medical students-274 (61.2%) women, 238 (53.1%) studying in EU-27 countries- completed the survey. Students’ mean (standard deviation, SD) perceived knowledge was highest in bone health (3.53, 0.86), depression (3.17, 0.93), and falls and mobility (3.16, 0.94), while lowest in gerodontology (2.14, 1.06), geriatric rehabilitation (2.45, 0.95), and orthogeriatrics (2.54, 0.99). Overall, 312 (69.7%) students reported exposure to geriatric medicine through specific courses and 257 (57.4%) through rotations in acute hospital wards. Only 30 (7%) students wanted to become geriatricians, while 147 (32.8%) students expressed high or very high enjoyment in engaging with older people. Conclusion Medical students reported limited knowledge in several key geriatric medicine topics and skills and relatively low interest in careers in geriatric medicine. In many cases learning experiences were limited to traditional lecture-based teaching and ward-based rotations. Active learning approaches such as case-based and problem-based learning were preferred.

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
Queen's University Belfast (GB), Jagiellonian University (PL), Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (GB), Medical University of Białystok (PL), Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy (RO), University of Novi Sad (RS), Medical University of Graz (AT), University of Perugia (IT), Turkish Armed Forces (TR), Tartu University Hospital (EE), National Institute for Health and Care Research (GB), University of Belgrade (RS), Ege University (TR), University Clinical Center of Kosovo (XK), Senologic Hellenic Society (GR), Hellenic Society for the Study of Bone Metabolism (GR), Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (DE), University Hospital Cologne (DE), National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (JP), Hellenic Cardiovascular Research Society (GR), University of Waikato (NZ), Istanbul University (TR), Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (MK), University of Prishtina (XK)
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Aging and Gerontology Research
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