Assessment of European health professionals' educational needs in basic principles of geriatric medicine: a focus group qualitative analysis from the PROGRAMMING COST Action 21122

Frost, R ORCID: 0000-0003-3523-0052, Viegas, A, Tsamasiotis, G-K, Gugu, M ORCID: 0000-0002-5064-3915, Mougakou, E, Savas, S, Kupis, R, Piotrowicz, K, Ganhão-Arranhado, S, Farinha, A, Herghelegiu, AM, Bajenaru, OL, Nuta, CR, Fonseca, J, Rudzińska, A, Popov, V, Milosavljevikj, P, Sakellari, V, Demiral Yilmaz, N, Lesz-Przybył, H et al (2026) Assessment of European health professionals' educational needs in basic principles of geriatric medicine: a focus group qualitative analysis from the PROGRAMMING COST Action 21122. European Geriatric Medicine. pp. 1-12. ISSN 1878-7649

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Abstract

Purpose
In many countries, geriatrics is still emerging as a speciality, with limited training options for healthcare professionals (HCPs). This international qualitative study aimed to explore the geriatric educational needs of HCPs, focussing on countries where geriatric medicine (GM) is emerging or underdeveloped.

Methods
Fourteen focus groups (n = 125 participants, 82% female, mean age 41.6 years) were carried out representing ten European countries and a range of HCPs and settings. Focus group discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and inductively coded in the original language. Codes were aggregated into a shared English codebook applied to all transcripts. Descriptive and subsequently analytical themes were then developed.

Results
Three themes were identified. (1) Current experiences of geriatric care: participants described caring for older adults as medically and socially complex, requiring strong communication skills and interprofessional collaboration. (2) Structural and contextual challenges: limited staffing, fragmented care pathways, and GM’s emerging status hindered effective care delivery. (3) Uncertainties and unmet training needs: key uncertainties included distinguishing ageing from disease, applying assessment tools, recognising red flags, and safe medication management. Participants emphasised the need for practical training during undergraduate studies, standardised interprofessional courses for non-specialists, and structural support (e.g. accessible programmes, protected time for training).

Conclusion
Currently, geriatrics training is limited and there are multiple contextual challenges, especially in countries with emerging GM. There is significant unmet need for HCP basic training in GM. Our study contributes to an empirical basis for developing relevant and feasible GM training for HCPs. Structural support is needed for these initiatives.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Education; Geriatric medicine; Qualitative; 4203 Health Services and Systems; 42 Health Sciences; Aging; Health Services; Clinical Research; Generic health relevance; 3 Good Health and Well Being; 4203 Health Services and Systems; 42 Health Sciences; Clinical Research; Aging; Health Services; Generic health relevance; 3 Good Health and Well Being; 3202 Clinical sciences; 4203 Health services and systems
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RT Nursing
Divisions:	Public and Allied Health
Publisher:	Springer
Date of acceptance:	4 February 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	25 March 2026
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2026 09:22
Last Modified:	25 Mar 2026 09:22
DOI or ID number:	10.1007/s41999-026-01430-0
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28286

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