• Linda Roberts, Charles Cornell, Mathias Bostrom, Sandra Goldsmith, Titilayo Ologhobo, Timothy Roberts, and Laura Robbins.
• Education Institute, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York. Electronic address: robertsl@hss.edu.
• J Surg Educ. 2018 Sep 1; 75 (5): 1180-1187.

BackgroundIt is vital for physicians and surgeons to communicate successfully with older adults, who will constitute one-fifth of the US population by 2030. Older adults often perceive themselves as stigmatized and powerless in healthcare settings. Effective communication leads to better patient compliance and satisfaction, which is now a component of Medicare hospital reimbursement and physician and surgeon compensation from hospitals and networks.ObjectiveTo increase orthopaedic surgery resident understanding of the unique needs of older adults in order to maintain effective and sensitive communication with this vulnerable population.DesignA two-part training program (ongoing for 8 years) comprised of: 1) small-group interactive didactic sessions on aging issues; and 2) workshop demonstrations given by the residents to a group of older adults, followed by a Question & Answer session. Residents were assessed using a 22-item pre-post questionnaire covering medical knowledge of aging, attitudes toward older adults, and personal anxiety about aging. Older adult participants were surveyed for perceptions of residents' sensitivity toward them.SettingHospital for Special Surgery in New York City, a specialized urban academic center, with a 5-year Orthopedic Surgery Residency program.Participants70 PGY3 residents, for whom the program is a requirement, and 711 older adult participants recruited from a community convenience sample.ResultsOlder adult participants: Of 711 participants, 672 (95%) responded; 96% strongly agreed/agreed that the residents had demonstrated sensitivity toward them. Residents: Of 70 residents, 35 (50%) were assessed. Mean knowledge scores increased significantly (p ≤ 0.001); five of nine attitude items (p ≤ 0.05) and one of four anxiety items improved significantly (p ≤ 0.001).ConclusionsSignificant change was seen in residents' attitudes and anxiety levels toward older adults, attributes that are usually deep seated and hard to change. Residents moved along the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Milestones continuum for three core competencies.Copyright © 2018 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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