Ageísmo em estudantes de odontologia das universidades federais do Rio Grande do Sul – um estudo multicêntrico

Abstract

Ageism is a multifaceted, socially constructed phenomenon that is highly detrimental to society as a whole, with more pronounced deleterious effects on the mental health and quality of life of the elderly. Gerontological education and intergenerational contact are proven strategies in effectively combating ageism, especially when targeted at teenagers and young adults in university settings. In this context, the aim of this study is to investigate the association between gerontological education and intergenerational contact with ageism among dental students. To achieve this, the research was divided into 2 phases: 1) identification of gerontological education in the studied courses through documental analysis, and 2) surveying intergenerational contact and ageism in the sample through a questionnaire containing an ageism scale (ASDS-Braz). The sample included students enrolled in the final year of dental programs at federal Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Rio Grande do Sul. For the analysis of the outcome (ageism), considering contextual variables (HEIs – level 1) and individual variables (individuals – level 2), Multilevel Poisson Regression was conducted. The results are presented with a 95% confidence interval. Students whose HEIs incorporate gerontological education as a cross-cutting axis of instruction demonstrated a 13 lower likelihood of exhibiting ageism compared to students from HEIs that offer specific isolated disciplines involving gerontological themes. Furthermore, students who report having a poor relationship with elderly family members are up to 45% more likely to exhibit ageism than those with an excellent relantionship. The findings of this study lead to the conclusion that there is a scarcity of gerontological education in the training of dentists, suggesting that integrating this knowledge transversally into dental curricula could effectively reduce ageism among students. Addicionally, reinforcing positive aspects of intergenerational relationship seems to be a strong strategy in combating ageism within this population.