Medical students' attitudes toward AIDS and homosexual patients. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Medical students' attitudes toward AIDS and homosexual patients.

J Med Educ. 1987 Jul;62(7):549-56. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/87254163
Kelly JA; St. Lawrence JS; Smith S Jr; Hood HV; Cook DJ

Abstract: 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.
Keywords: *Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Adult *Attitude of Health Personnel Female *Homosexuality Human Male Prejudice Psychological Tests Statistics Students, Medical/*PSYCHOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndromeadultKWDattitudeofhealthpersonnelfemaleKWDhomosexualityhumanmaleprejudicepsychologicaltestsstatisticsstudents,medical/KWDpsychologyjournalarticle
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M87A0362

Copyright © 1987 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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