title: Teaching of geriatric health in India: Mapping the terrain.
abstract: India is currently undergoing a rapid demographic transition along with a dramatic upsurge in the number of elderly adults. Creating a cadre of specialized health care professionals in geriatric medicine is clearly vital to address the health care needs of this growing population. The authors undertook a mapping of the available academic programs in geriatric health in India and examined their content, duration, architecture, and student intake. A total of 20 programs were identified in geriatric health, thus highlighting a paucity of training options in this field. Compared to Western countries, relatively few programs are offered in clinical and public health geriatrics in India. This is further compounded by an insignificant thrust of geriatrics in undergraduate health professional curricula. Our results underscore the need for a national-level curricular initiative to strengthen and mainstream the teaching of geriatric health in the country. Alternative educational strategies such as blended learning and interprofessional education should be explored to enhance geriatric health workforce competence.
authors.affiliation: a Indian Institute of Public Health Bhubaneswar , Public Health Foundation of India , Patia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Sanghamitra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pati
authors.affiliation: b Academic Programs , Public Health Foundation of India , Haryana , India.
authors.forename: Anjali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: c Department of Health and Family Welfare , Government of Odisha , Bhubaneswar, Odisha , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Sandipana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pati
authors.affiliation: d Public Health Education , Public Health Foundation of India , Haryana , India.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zodpey
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education
keywords: Geriatric education; India; geriatric health; geriatric medicine; health professional education