Bridging knowledge gaps in geriatric care around the world
As our global population ages, the need for well-trained geriatrics professionals has never been greater. A recent virtual initiative focused on understanding the education and knowledge gaps in geriatric care in different countries. The goal? Gather important insights that will help shape future training programs and improve the care of older adults worldwide.
The project, led by me and my colleague Dr. Santiago Cotobal Rodoles, brought together healthcare professionals from over ten countries in a series of virtual focus groups. These focus groups were organized by profession, with discussions led by moderators who shared a similar professional background with the participants. During these meetings, doctors, geriatricians, nurses and pharmacists discussed their experiences, challenges and perspectives on geriatric care.
The findings were illuminating. Healthcare professionals in various fields have expressed concern about gaps in geriatric training and highlighted the knowledge and training gaps they face every day working with older adults. There have been consistent calls for more specialized training and resources to better equip these professionals to address the unique needs of aging populations.
For many participants, this virtual initiative was an eye-opener, revealing how different countries deal with similar issues in geriatric care. Some of the key issues that emerged included the lack of structured educational opportunities in geriatrics, the need for more hands-on training in the field, and a desire for greater international collaboration on best practices. These insights were important not only for the research team but also for the participants, who began to establish new professional networks following these discussions.
Going forward, my team and I plan to combine these findings with data from previous focus groups [conducted in different countries, face-to-face] to build a comprehensive picture of geriatric education needs around the world. We hope that this integrated analysis will contribute to the development of geriatric training programs adapted to diverse healthcare systems. Such programs aim to provide health care workers with the tools they need to improve the quality of life and medical care of older adults.
This study was conducted as part of COST Action 21122 led by Prof. Marina Kostani. One of the goals of the project is to support countries where formal geriatric education is still in its early stages. By identifying key educational gaps and fostering international collaboration, the project hopes to lay a strong foundation for improving geriatric medicine worldwide.
Thank you, team members and colleagues who were moderators in the focus groups, and all the Action members who participated in the focus groups. It was a pleasure working with you.
