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Changes in Attitudes of Medical Students Toward Psychiatry: An Evaluation of a Clerkship in Psychiatry

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Abstract

Four categories of medical student attitudes were measured: attitudes toward psychiatry and psychiatrists; treatability of psychiatric patients; likeability of psychiatric patients; attitudes toward the medical profession. Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECM) students showed preto post-clerkship positive attitude change in their attitude toward psychiatry and psychiatrists and treatability of psychiatric patients. Ben-Gurion University (Israel) students showed no changes in attitude scores. Analysis of 14 items considered especially relevant to the clerkship experience indicated that the clerkship tended to strengthen pre-existing positive attitudes with no change in negative attitudes.

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This study was supported by a grant from the School of Medicine, Center for Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

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Antonovsky, H.F., Ginath, Y. Changes in Attitudes of Medical Students Toward Psychiatry: An Evaluation of a Clerkship in Psychiatry. Acad Psychiatry 8, 218–226 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03399934

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03399934

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