Knowledge and attitudes about AIDS among first- and second-year medical students.

Several studies have concluded that many physicians may harbor fearful and prejudicial attitudes toward AIDS patients and may lack the skills necessary to respond to the growing number of patients with AIDS. The authors surveyed 73 preclinical medical students at Eastern Virginia Medical School of the Medical College of Hampton Roads concerning their knowledge of and attitudes about AIDS, before and after a 6-hour training workshop. The same survey was completed by 49 students who did not participate in the workshop. Significant knowledge gains were recorded by first-year participating students and for all participants as a group. Neither group of students revealed discriminatory attitudes toward AIDS patients. The use of voluntary training programs to teach medical students about AIDS and the responsibilities of providing care to AIDS patients may be an effective method for educators.

Specialty preference and attitudes toward the aged.

The relationship between the attitudes and knowledge regarding the aged and specialty preference of undergraduate medical students at three medical schools was studied. No significant differences in attitudes were found when students were classified by class (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior) or by sex. A significant though weak relationship between class and level of cognitive knowledge was found. Students indicating a preference for family practice as a specialty demonstrated levels of cognitive knowledge which did not differ significantly from all other students. Similarly, attitudes of family practice students did not differ significantly from attitudes expressed by other students. However, when all students expressing a preference for a primary care specialty were compared to students expressing preferences for non-primary care specialties, primary care students had significantly more positive attitudes toward the aged than their peers. Levels of cognitive knowledge did not differ significantly. The data appeared to suggest that students selecting primary care specialties are somewhat more humanistic and empathetically oriented, at least in regard to the aged, than their peers while exhibiting essentially identical levels of cognitive knowledge. The implications of these findings for family practice education are discussed.