9th July 2009
Download pdfFirst year Medicine students will experiment ageing
The students registered on this course were the first to personally “suffer” the limitations in sight, hearing and mobility which elderly people normally suffer. With glasses to simulate cataracts, ear plugs to simulate deafness, bound up to feign respiratory problems and short- windedness or gloves to emulate the consequences of arthritis, the participants of the game had to perform everyday tasks. There were five tests: arithmetic, memory, household tasks and daily activities.
The aim of the exercise is to make aspiring doctors realize the difficulties which people go through during the ageing process, helping them by putting them in the patient’s position. In fact, The European Higher Education Area includes empathy as one of its skills. This is normal practice in medical faculties in United States, but has not been undertaken by any European University, according to Jaume March. " Geriatrics has not been included in the new study plans and we wanted to introduce it with this experience”, explained the professor.
Experiencing for themselves the limitations in sight, hearing and mobility which elderly people normally suffer will help doctors of the future put themselves in their patient’s position |