Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Greg Hickman

Abstract

AbstractIn the United States, an estimated 49.2 million older adults seek specialized geriatric medical treatment from a primary care physician (PCP). Due to a nationwide geriatrician deficit resulting from significant aging population growth, PCPs now manage specialized geriatric issues, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive assessments, and physiological impairments, such as Parkinson’s, due to non-normative aging. Although PCPs may take geriatric courses, geriatric specialization is beyond a normative primary care medical practice. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore primary care physician attitudes, beliefs, and actions, toward geriatrics and to expand the understanding of primary care physicians’ geriatric treatment decisions inclusive of prescriptive planning. For this generic qualitative study, the theory of planned behavior was the framework. Nine participants were primary care physicians currently practicing in Oregon with a minimum 20% geriatric patient base. Utilizing thematic analysis initially interviews were coded for key terms and phrases with color-coordinated highlights, then grouped into major categories which then emerged five themes. Five themes emerged with limitations of geriatric patient care due to Medicare restrictions, need for a greater comprehensive and integrative approach with mental and social services, understanding polypharmacy and medication interactions, barriers to patient care due to limitations of family support with social and environmental factors, and joy and fulfillment treating geriatric patients The results of this generic qualitative study potentially benefit PCPs nationwide, highlighting gaps in best practices, issues specific to geriatric care, and geriatric training that may provide further exploration.

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