On 17th of November the seminar entitled “Diverse facets of activating the elderly in medical practice” took place to summarize three years of scientific research done in the project PRACTA – Activating the Elderly in Medical Practice.

The course and outcome of PRACTA research were presented along with conclusions for further studies in this field. More than 8800 patients aged 50+ and their 393 GPs participated in the study. On the basis of our analysis, which are still in progress, we can state that:
- The expectations related to enhancement of activity as declared by older patients are seen differently by their GPs
- Intervention prepared by PRACTA team in form of e-learning or a pdf article changes GPs’ perception of their elderly patients’ expectations and activation level.
- Doctors’ behavior after intervention, especially e-learning, appears as fitting better to seniors’ expectations and reflecting in higher level of patients’ activation which was self-rated after the appointment.

The later results seem to constitute a particularly important input in the knowledge about the relationship between e-learning for doctors and its effects assessed among their patients. The results from PRACTA study suggest significant potential in this area of interest.

Further during the seminar, the ideas about the need and possibilities concerning activation of elderly patients, in context of Polish demographic trends, were presented by our invited experts. The opinions were presented by prof. Bolesław Samoliński – leader of Coalition for Healthy Ageing, Jacek Putz, PhD – representing Polish National Adviser in Family Medicine and The College of Family Physicians in Poland, Katarzyna Broczek PhD – the head of the MUW Geriatric Clinic, Zofia Szweda-Lewandowska PhD – from the Collegium of Socio-Economics in Warsaw School of Economics. Perspectives, problems and values relating to activation of the elderly in primary healthcare facilities were discussed. There was an emphasis that promotion of activity among seniors relates to complex and broader issues (from solutions on the level of national health system to one’s health habits from earlier life stages), and to be effective it urgently needs to be provided wherever possible, not only in primary care. Another factor focusing attention is vast heterogeneity of this population. Thus, individual abilities and needs have to be always perceived in medical care, whereas actually stereotypes and simplifications are common even among medical staff and can discourage patients from activity.

Our closing seminar was attended by guests representing e.g. Bureau of the Commissioner for Patients' Right, College of Family Physicians in Poland, National Health Found, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, National Centre for Research and Development, various clinics of MUW and public health facilities.

Dr Dorota Włodarczyk

Dr Magda Łazarewicz

Dr Marta Rzadkiewicz

Prof. Bolesław Samoliński

Dr Jacek Putz

Dr Katarzyna Broczek

Dr Zofia Szweda-Lewandowska

Photo: Michał Teperek, WUM Fotomed Department