Display options
Cite
Ben-Harush A, Shiovitz-Ezra S, Doron I, et al. Ageism among physicians, nurses, and social workers: findings from a qualitative study. Eur J Ageing. 2016;14(1):39-48doi: 10.1007/s10433-016-0389-9.
Ben-Harush, A., Shiovitz-Ezra, S., Doron, I., Alon, S., Leibovitz, A., Golander, H., Haron, Y., & Ayalon, L. (2017). Ageism among physicians, nurses, and social workers: findings from a qualitative study. European journal of ageing, 14(1), 39-48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-016-0389-9
Ben-Harush, Aya, et al. "Ageism among physicians, nurses, and social workers: findings from a qualitative study." European journal of ageing vol. 14,1 (2017): 39-48. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-016-0389-9
Ben-Harush A, Shiovitz-Ezra S, Doron I, Alon S, Leibovitz A, Golander H, Haron Y, Ayalon L. Ageism among physicians, nurses, and social workers: findings from a qualitative study. Eur J Ageing. 2016 Jun 28;14(1):39-48. doi: 10.1007/s10433-016-0389-9. eCollection 2017 Mar. PMID: 28804393; PMCID: PMC5550621.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Eur J Ageing. 2016 Jun 28;14(1):39-48. doi: 10.1007/s10433-016-0389-9. eCollection 2017 Mar.

Ageism among physicians, nurses, and social workers: findings from a qualitative study.

European journal of ageing

Aya Ben-Harush, Sharon Shiovitz-Ezra, Israel Doron, Sara Alon, Arthur Leibovitz, Hava Golander, Yafa Haron, Liat Ayalon

Affiliations

  1. The Department of Social Work, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer, Israel.
  2. The Early Childhood Education Program, The David Yellin Academic College of Education, Jerusalem, Israel.
  3. Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, 91905 Jerusalem, Israel.
  4. Department of Gerontology, University of Haifa, 31905 Haifa, Israel.
  5. ESHEL-Joint, Joint Hill, POB 3489, Jerusalem, Israel.
  6. Internal Medicine-Geriatrics, Epidemiology and Prevention, Tel Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
  7. The Department of Nursing, The Stanley Steyer School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
  8. Nursing Division, Ministry of Health, Capital Towers, 39 Jermiyau St, Jerusalem, Israel.
  9. Gabi and Louis Weisfeld School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 52900 Ramat Gan, Israel.

PMID: 28804393 PMCID: PMC5550621 DOI: 10.1007/s10433-016-0389-9

Abstract

This study investigated ageism among healthcare professionals in various therapeutic settings in Israel. Using a qualitative approach, the current study aimed to examine similarities and differences across healthcare disciplines. Three focus groups were conducted with physicians, nurses, and social workers. Data from each focus group were analyzed separately, and then commonalities and differences across the groups were evaluated. Three main themes relating to older adults emerged from the data. The first theme pertains to perceived difficulties that healthcare professionals experience in working with older adults and their family members; the second focuses on invisibility and discriminatory communication patterns; and the third theme relates to provision of inappropriate care to older adults. Similarities and differences across the three disciplines were found. The differences related mainly to the examples provided for manifestations of ageism in the healthcare system. Provision of inadequate treatment to older adults due to their age appeared to be the most complex theme, and is discussed at length in the Discussion. Briefly, the complexity stems from the fact that although some behaviors can be clearly described as inappropriate and undesirable, other behaviors such as avoidance of invasive medical procedures for older patients raise ethical dilemmas. Potentially, avoidance of invasive medical treatment can be perceived as compassionate care rather than as undertreatment due to ageist perceptions. A related dilemma, i.e., longevity versus quality-of-life, is also discussed in light of the finding that the balance of these two aspects changes as patients grow old.

Keywords: Ageism; Focus groups; Nurses; Physicians; Qualitative research; Social workers

References

  1. J Adv Nurs. 1999 Nov;30(5):1106-17 - PubMed
  2. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000 Feb;48(2):188-92 - PubMed
  3. ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2000 Mar;22(3):89-103 - PubMed
  4. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000 May;48(5 Suppl):S187-93 - PubMed
  5. Fam Process. 2000 Summer;39(2):163-75 - PubMed
  6. Ann Oncol. 2000 May;11(5):599-601 - PubMed
  7. Int J Nurs Pract. 2000 Apr;6(2):62-9 - PubMed
  8. Nurse Educ Today. 2001 Apr;21(3):225-9 - PubMed
  9. JAMA. 2001 Jun 6;285(21):2750-6 - PubMed
  10. Age Ageing. 2003 Mar;32(2):171-7 - PubMed
  11. J Abnorm Soc Psychol. 1961 Jan;62:44-54 - PubMed
  12. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2004 May-Jun;12(3):258-64 - PubMed
  13. J Adv Nurs. 2004 Aug;47(4):446-53 - PubMed
  14. J Gerontol Nurs. 2004 Sep;30(9):5-13 - PubMed
  15. Soc Sci Med. 2006 Apr;62(7):1579-93 - PubMed
  16. J Adv Nurs. 2006 Dec;56(5):491-7 - PubMed
  17. Nurs Stand. 2007 Mar 14-20;21(27):35-8 - PubMed
  18. Nurse Educ Today. 2009 Aug;29(6):617-22 - PubMed
  19. J Interprof Care. 2012 Sep;26(5):397-409 - PubMed
  20. Int J Nurs Stud. 2013 Sep;50(9):1271-82 - PubMed
  21. J Adv Nurs. 1990 May;15(5):571-6 - PubMed
  22. Br J Nurs. 2014 Feb 27-Mar 12;23(4):225-9 - PubMed
  23. J Nurs Manag. 2015 Nov;23(8):965-73 - PubMed
  24. BMJ. 1995 Jul 29;311(7000):299-302 - PubMed
  25. Gerontologist. 1994 Feb;34(1):95-102 - PubMed
  26. BMJ. 1997 Oct 25;315(7115):1058-9 - PubMed

Publication Types