Psychogeriatric knowledge and training in primary health care

After a 10-h course in psychogeriatrics primary health care physicians, nurses, and collaborating social workers improved their psychogeriatric knowledge level as measured by a test, but this change was not statistically significant. The knowledge gap between the primary care professionals and a group of residents in psychiatry, however, diminished significantly. No significant difference appeared in the effectiveness of the two different group-teaching techniques applied (case study and lecture teaching). In psychogeriatric training a questionnaire may serve as an instrument for knowledge-level assessment and program planning.