Medical masters: A pilot study of adaptive ageing in physicians.
OBJECTIVE
To describe models of career and lifestyle options for ageing doctors that suggest adaptability to ageing and retirement.


METHODS
Doctors aged 60 or older from Australia, Canada and the United States (n= 25) deemed to be ageing well by peers were administered a semistructured interview to obtain demographic and qualitative data regarding lifestyle, attitudes to ageing and retirement.


RESULTS
Emergent themes included: (i) insights into the physical and psychological vicissitudes of ageing and the effects of such on practice; (ii) the need for adaptations in working hours and choice of work; (iii) the importance of long-term retirement planning; (iv) the usefulness of a transitional phase to ease into retirement; and (v) the need to cultivate a variety of medical and non-medical pursuits and relationships early in one's career.


CONCLUSIONS
These insights might encourage doctors to engage in long-term occupational, familial, social and financial planning and provide potential models of adaptive ageing in doctors for further study.
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. cpeisah62@bigpond.com
Carmelle
C
Peisah
Mamta
M
Gautam
Marion Z
MZ
Goldstein
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D017748:Time Management