Medical students' attitudes toward AIDS and homosexual patients. J Med Educ 1987 Jul;62(7):549-56
Date
07/01/1987Pubmed ID
3599050DOI
10.1097/00001888-198707000-00003Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84947643444 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 175 CitationsAbstract
More than most diseases, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) appears to elicit highly negative, fearful, and prejudicial attitudes. In the study reported here, medical students read one of four patient vignettes. The vignettes were identical in content except that the patient was identified as having either AIDS or leukemia as either homosexual or heterosexual. The students then completed a set of objective measures that assessed their attitudes toward the patient portrayed in the vignette. Multivariate and univariate analyses of variance of their responses revealed that the students held negative and prejudiced attitudes toward both the AIDS and homosexual patients. This finding suggests that medical educators should recognize that many students have stigmatizing, negative attitudes toward homosexuals and patients with AIDS. These educators should promote greater sensitivity, knowledge, and understanding among medical students of those at risk for AIDS and AIDS patients.
Author List
Kelly JA, St Lawrence JS, Smith S Jr, Hood HV, Cook DJAuthor
Jeffrey A. Kelly PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Acquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeAdult
Attitude of Health Personnel
Female
Homosexuality
Humans
Male
Prejudice
Psychological Tests
Statistics as Topic
Students, Medical
