TY  - JOUR
AU  - Powers, James
AU  - Birdsong, Destiny
AU  - Bonnet, Kemberlee
AU  - Kapoor, Neena
AU  - Southward, Jamaria
AU  - Nwankwo, Ifeoma
AU  - Schlundt, David
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/08/26
TI  - Wisdom of the Elders: Narratives Enhancing Trainees’ Attitudes Towards Aging
JO  - OBM Geriatrics
SP  - 072
VL  - 03
IS  - 03
AB  - Background: Narratives encompass written reflection experiences and hold the potential to display valuable insights into trainees’ thinking.  We analyzed narratives from graduate students trained in aging themes, who then interviewed older hospitalized adults (senior partners) about their life experiences.
Methods: Three Discovery Fellows trained on open-ended interviewing, empathy, and aging themes performed semi-structured interviews.  Senior partners were hospitalized older veterans. After the interviews, narratives were composed and uploaded to a secure site. Qualitative analysis was performed, and a file management system stored identified codes and associated quotes supported by the coding category.  The coded data were then used to summarize the quotes and identify significant themes extracted from the data.  A total of 774 codes were used to describe the themes present in 582 quotes.
Results: Senior partners comprised 17 patients with a mean age of 66.9 years (range 51–85) with multiple comorbidities. A conceptual framework from the narrative themes emerged with 5 groupings: 1) personal experience, 2) important people, 3) self-reflection, 4) medical condition, 5) health maintenance.  
Conclusion: Senior partners provided unique responses with reflections based on their life experiences.  Trainees given guidance on aging concerns develop narratives which express insight regarding aging themes, including: empathy, self-reflection, and positive intergenerational attitudes.
SN  - 2638-1311
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903072
DO  - 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903072
ID  - Powers2019
ER  -