Social Attitudes

An attitude is a tendency to behave in a preferential manner An attitude is a tendency to behave in a preferential manner. It dénotes certain constant traits in an individual’s ways of feeling and thinking, and his predispositions towards action with regard to another person such as, a patient Attitudes are our expressions of likes and dislikes towards the people and objects.

Cognitive what a person knows and his belief about the attitude object. Affective how he feels about the attitude object. Conative behavioural tendency towards the object, both verbal and nonverbal

Definition Attitudes are predisposed ‘tendencies to respond in a particular way and not a fixed response. These are not innate. The whole personality structure of an individual and his behavior are constituted by a complex of interlinked attitudes.

Attitude vs opinion An opinion is a belief that one holds about some object in his environment. It differs from attitude, being relatively free of emotion. It lacks the affective component central to attitude

Patient care: Any negative attitude towards race, community or disease results in a prejudicial behaviour that affects the patients. Formation of attitudes of peers or juniors: Senior doctors has a significant impact on the students for the formation of opinions concerning health-related issues Acceptance of new technology: In the present times, many new innovations in techniques, equipment and methods of health care delivery are taking place. Our attitudes can bias acceptance of new technology and high profile specialities. Interpersonal skills: Studies have shown that during training of undergraduate students there is a gradual decline in their interpersonal skills. This affects skills of history taking and elicitation of information from the patient. Role in medicine

Effects of attitudes on meaningful learning

Attitudinal bias while examining the patients. Premature closure and dogmatic response an early referral is made prior to taking a complete history, Evasion—student misses the patient’s history and directs the conversation under his control Premature reassurance—here the student negates the concerns of the patient and reassures the patient without having substantial evidence Rejection—student may avoid conflict areas and reject patient’s concerns by neglect. and reject patient’s concerns by neglect. Condescension—Value-laden language is used so as to shame, embarrass or humiliate the patient.

Development of Attitudes

Family Sullivan has observed that the information provided by the parents in the earliest stages of life is very difficult to undo. Erroneous and non-adaptive attitudes moulded from parental feedback have tremendous implications for further personality development. As we grow, we tend to be influenced by other sources such as friends and group members.

Peers Just as we learn from family in the early childhood, later our peer group has a tremendous influence on the development of attitudes. One may form very different or opposing attitudes in the company of friends

Needed attitudes Eliciting psychosocial aspects of the illness. Giving due respect to the patient’s age; communicating patiently with older patients. Examination of female patients in privacy. Informing the relative about the patient’s condition.

Needed attitudes Breaking the news of death to the relatives. elicit history concerning very personal aspects of patient’s life, like sexual history. Informing the patient before giving an injection or doing a procedure. Understanding individual differences and reactions to illness.

Assessment of attitudes