University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth
Office of Curricular Affairs
1035 University Drive - 109 Med
Duluth, MN 55812
Survey Categories

GERIATRIC SURVEY

This Survey was created for Course Directors at the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth. The purpose of the study is to do a needs assessment of our current geriatrics curriculum. This will serve as a baseline which will help to identify content gaps and to determine the best way to teach geriatrics in the curriculum. This internal study is being conducted by Dr. Richard Hoffman, Associate Dean for Curriculum and Education, and Dr. Alan Johns, Associate Professor in Family Medicine.

If you have any questions regarding this survey, you are encouraged to contact Dr. Richard Hoffman or Dr. Alan Johns.

SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS:

Review the questions asked on this survey and gather necessary information needed to complete the survey. If you complete the survey in one sitting, fill in the information below and print the survey or, if you would like, do an "Edit, Select All" from the web page: "Edit, Copy" then paste it in Microsoft Word. This will allow you to save this document into a file on your computer and you can then start and stop the survey at various times.

Please refer completed survey by (Date) to 109 Med. If you have any problems with the functionality of this survey, please contact Brenda Doup at 726-7581.
Basic Science Knowledge

Clinical

Pathophysiology

Psychosocial Problems

Disease Prevention

Ethical Issues

Health Care Financing

Cultural Aspects of Aging

Clinical Skills

Knowledge Areas

Evaluation of Undergraduate Geriatrics Curriculum

Date: Course: Course Year: Yr 1 Yr 2

Course Director:

1. To What extent does your course cover the following areas in geriatric health? (Check all that apply).

Basic Science Knowledge Not Covered Couple of Sentences in the Lecture Devoted to Topic Half a Lecture Devoted to Topic Entire
Lecture Devoted to Topic
The demography and epidemiology of aging, including the growth in numbers of older people and heterogeneity of the older population
Theories of aging, including biochemical/molecular, cellular, genetic, and biophysical
"Normal" aging versus diseases at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organism levels
Anatomic and histologic changes associated with aging
Pathology associated with normal aging and age-associated disease processes
The physiology of aging in various organ systems
Pharmacologic issues in aging and relevance to therapeutic decisions

Clinical: Risk factors, causes, signs, symptoms, differential diagnoses, initial diagnostic evaluations, and preventive strategies for: Not Covered Couple of Sentences in the Lecture Devoted to Topic Half a Lecture Devoted to Topic Entire
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Dementia
Inappropriate prescribing of medications.
Incontinence
Depression
Delirium
Iatrogenic problems, including consequences of hospitalization and bedrest
Falls
Osteoporosis
Sensory alterations, including hearing and visual impairment
Failure to thrive
Immobility and gait disturbances
Pressure ulcers
Sleep Disorders
Nonspecific presentations of disease

Pathophysiology, presenting signs and symptoms, differential diagnoses, and initial diagnositc evaluations for: Not Covered Couple of Sentences in the Lecture Devoted to Topic Half a Lecture Devoted to Topic Entire
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Rheumatologic diseases (e.g., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, temporal arteritis/polymyalgia rheumatica)
Genito-urological diseases (e.g., benign prostatic hyperplasia, sexual dysfunction)
Neurologic diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease, stroke and transient ischemic attack, dizziness/syncope)
Cardiovascular diseases (e.g., congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillations, valvular heart disease), and hypertension (diastolic and systolic)
Endocrinologic diseases (e.g., type II diabetes mellitus, hyperosmolar nonketotic coma, hyper- and hypo-thyroidism, Paget's disease of the bone)
Cancers of various organs, including breast, lung, colon, prostate, and hematologic malignancies
Infections, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, and urinary tract infections
Renal diseases (e.g., fluid and electrolyte disturbances)
Gastroenterologic disorders (e.g., constipation, malnutrition, diverticulitis, diverticulosis
Psychiatric diseases (e.g., depression)
Fractures and amyloidosis

The presenting signs and symptoms of-and appropriate referral for - psychosocial problems and issues common to elders, including: Not Covered Couple of Sentences in the Lecture Devoted to Topic Half a Lecture Devoted to Topic Entire
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Normal late-life changes, inlucing retirement
Psychological problems, including affective disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, responses to medical illness, depression, and substance abuse
Under-reporting of symptoms and illnesses
Sexuality and aging
Elder abuse and neglect
Suicide
Home Safety
Community resources, including those used to prevent institutionalization
Adaptation of care in alternative living situations, including long-term care facilities

Disease Prevention, including: Not Covered Couple of Sentences in the Lecture Devoted to Topic Half a Lecture Devoted to Topic Entire
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Primary disease prevention (for example, exercise and nutritional and psychosocial interventions designed to maximize function and allow independent living)
Secondary disease prevention with age - appropriate screening for diseases and identification of geriatric syndromes
Tertiary disease prevention strategies (for example, rehabilitation and chemoprophylaxis in the post-myocardial infarction patient)

Ethical Issues in geriatric care, including: Not Covered Couple of Sentences in the Lecture Devoted to Topic Half a
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Entire
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Advance directives
Decision - making capacity
Euthanasia
Assisted suicide
Health care rationing
Pain management
End-of-life care

Health care financing, including: Not Covered Couple of Sentences in the Lecture Devoted to Topic Half a
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Entire
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Mechanisms and implications
Medicare
Medicaid
Managed care
Capitation

Cultural aspects of aging, with emphasis on: Not Covered Couple of Sentences in the Lecture Devoted to Topic Half a
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Entire
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Demographic information for ethnic elders in the United States
The heterogeneity of federally-designated minority groups; risk factors and disease prevalence in these elders
The components of culturally competent medical care

Clinical Skills Not Covered Couple of Sentences in the Lecture Devoted to Topic Half a
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Entire
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Screening examinations for mental status, geriatric depression, and functional status (including activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living)
Physical diagnosis skills, including the ability to perform mobility and gait and balance assessments, recognizing normal versus abnormal signs of aging, and performing pre-operative assessment

Knowledge Areas: Not Covered Couple of Sentences in the Lecture Devoted to Topic Half a
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Entire
Lecture Devoted to Topic
Syndromes and conditions more common with older people
Diseases and disorders more common with older people
Ethical issues in geriatric care
Psychosocial issues
Pharmacological changes in aging
Physiology of aging in various organ systems
Prevention
Palliative care
Normal aging versus disease
Age-associated and related pathology
Demography and epidemiology of aging
Theories of aging, including molecular, cellular, genetic, and biophysical
Health care financing (mechanisms and implications)
Anatomic and histologic changes over life cycle
Nutrition
Cultural aspects of aging
Outcome measurement pertinent to older persons


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