Ageism: analysis of aging negative stereotypes in primary care professionals

Abstract

Title: Ageism: analysis of aging negative stereotypes in primary care professionals.

Objectives: To know the elderly negative stereotypes among health and non-health primary care professionals.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study by survey.

Site: Primary care in Vigo and Ourense, between February and March 2022.

Measurements/Methods: Elderly negative stereotypes questionnaire (CENVE-R). Sociodemographic variables (sex, age, studies, professional category, working time, contact with the elderly and work environment) and personality traits which could influence on the stereotypes.

Results: Survey from 347 participants were analyzed. 9.2% (IC95%, 6.39 a 12.77) of the professionals have negative stereotypes, 1.7% (IC95%, 0.64 a 3.73) positive, 30 is the median score in CENVE-R. According to the multivariate linear regression model for CENVE-R as an outcome variable, prior contact and extraversion were significant.

Conclusions: Ageism has an important prevalence among health professionals. It is necessary to improve training and research on aging in social-health professionals.

Keywords: Prejudice; Primary Health Care; Health Inequalities.