Ageism: A Problem of the Twenty First Century

• Authors: Piotr Michalak , Andrzej Zarzecki , Joanna Zarzecka

Title variants

PL

Ageizm: problem XXI wieku

Abstracts

PL

Starzenie się społeczeństwa jest procesem globalnym i przybierającym na sile, a jakość starzenia się jest istotnym parametrem tego procesu. Prognozuje się, że w latach 2015-2050 dojdzie do podwojenia odsetka ludzi w wieku starszym. Celem pracy była analiza piśmiennictwa dotycząca zachowań dyskryminacyjnych ze względu na wiek tzw. ageizm, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem zachowań w obrębie ochrony zdrowia, w tym również lekarzy dentystów. Ageizm może być ważnym czynnikiem wpływającym na zdrowie i samopoczucie osób starszych, co powinno być brane pod uwagę przy opracowywaniu strategii wspierania zdrowszego i szczęśliwszego starzenia się. W badaniu ankietowym populacji Polskiej wykazano, że 26% uczestników powyżej 65. roku życia uważa grupę swoich rówieśników za dyskryminowaną, a 8% było świadkami dyskryminacji. Podkreśla się, że niechęć do ludzi starszych i ich dyskryminacja w placówkach medycznych jest częściej obserwowana w sytuacjach presji czasowej i niedoboru personelu medycznego. Starsi ludzie coraz częściej zachowują naturalne uzębienie, w związku z tym rośnie zapotrzebowanie na przeszkolonych lekarzy zajmujących się kompleksową opieką nad pacjentami w starszym wieku. Pomimo to wskazuje się, że sama poprawa wiedzy na temat procesu starzenia nie zmienia postawy wobec pacjentów seniorów. Po analizie piśmiennictwa należy zauważyć znikomą ilość badań poświęconych tematyce ageizmu prowadzonych poza USA. Badania prowadzone w dziedzinie stomatologii odnoszące się do tej tematyki najczęściej ograniczane są do badania postaw studentów. Obecny czas pandemii COVID-19 uwypuklił nieprawidłowe zachowania obarczone ageizmem.

EN

The ageing of society is a global process which is gaining strength. The quality of ageing is an essential parameter of this process. It has been predicted that the percentage of elderly individuals will double during the period 2015-2050. The aim of the present paper was to analyse the literature on discriminatory behaviour due to age, or so-called ageism, with particular emphasis on behaviour within the area of healthcare, including that of dentists. Ageism may constitute an important factor in the health and well-being of elderly people, one which should be considered in the design of strategies to support healthier and happier ageing. A survey of the Polish population showed that 26% of participants aged 65 and over considered that their peers are being discriminated against, whereas 8% had personally witnessed discrimination. It has been emphasised that aversion to the elderly and discrimination against them in medical facilities is observed more frequently in situations involving time pressure and shortage of medical personnel. More and more frequently, elderly people retain their natural teeth; accordingly, there is a growing demand for trained dentists to provide comprehensive care for elderly patients. Nevertheless, it has been indicated that mere improvement of levels of knowledge about the ageing process does not change attitudes towards elderly patients. Following analysis of the relevant literature, it should be noted that the volume of research on ageism conducted outside the US is negligible. Research related to this subject in the field of dentistry is most often limited to students’ attitudes. The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted inappropriate behaviours characterised by ageism.

Keywords

EN

ageism; discrimination; medicine; dentistry; COVID-19

PL

ageizm; dyskryminacja; medycyna; stomatologia; COVID-19

• Publisher: Stowarzyszenie Absolwentów i Przyjaciół Wydziału Prawa Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego
• Journal: Biuletyn Stowarzyszenia Absolwentów i Przyjaciół Wydziału Prawa Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego
• Year: 2021
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 18 (2)
• Pages: 193-207

Dates

published

2021

Contributors

author

Piotr Michalak

• Department of Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics, Institute of Stomatology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical College, Jagiellonian University

author

Andrzej Zarzecki

• Krakow Bar Association

author

Joanna Zarzecka

• Department of Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics, Institute of Stomatology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical College, Jagiellonian University

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Identifiers

DOI

10.32084/sawp.2021.16.2-11

Biblioteka Nauki

22446485