We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Austrian medical students' attitudes towards male and female homosexuality: A comparative survey.
- Authors
Arnold, Oliver; Voracek, Martin; Musalek, Michael; Springer-Kremser, Marianne
- Abstract
Background: The attitudes of health-care professionals and medical students towards male and female homosexuality are of practical relevance and have increasingly become a topic of scientific research. Comparative investigations between medical students and other student groups have not yet been conducted. Objectives: To assess the attitudes of Austrian medical students towards homosexuality and to compare these with the attitudes of students of politics and veterinary medicine. Methods: Students of medicine (122), politics (145), and veterinary medicine (153) completed a questionnaire consisting of validated instruments assessing anti-homo- sexual attitudes, items assessing knowledge on homo- sexual issues, and basic demographic information. Results: Participants' attitudes were predominantly positive. For all instruments, two-way analyses of covariance revealed significant influences of participants' sex and study major: students of medicine and veterinary medicine held more negative attitudes than students of politics, and males were more prejudiced than females. Overall, attitudes towards male and female homosexuality were balanced, but male students of politics and veterinary medicine were more prejudiced towards male than female homosexuality. A significant influence of participants' sex (favoring females) was observed in knowledge of homosexual issues. Conclusions: Although neutrality and empathy are considered vital in the doctor-patient relationship, medical students revealed more negative attitudes than students of politics did, the latter's attitudes being similar to those of students of veterinary medicine. These findings suggest that educational and correcting interventions are required in medical training.
- Subjects
AUSTRIA; HOMOSEXUALITY; SEXUAL orientation; HUMAN sexuality; MEDICAL students; HEALTH occupations students
- Publication
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, 2004, Vol 116, Issue 21/22, p730
- ISSN
0043-5325
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00508-004-0261-3