Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

The prematurity stereotype in Israeli health care providers

M Stern1, S K Moritzen, S Carmel

  • 1Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, SUNY, New York State, 12222, USA.

Medical Education
|February 13, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Medical and nursing students exhibit prematurity stereotypes, rating premature infants more negatively. Stereotype content varied by student level, impacting communication style with mothers.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Medical Education
  • Social Cognition

Background:

  • Stereotypes influence healthcare provider perceptions and interactions.
  • The prematurity stereotype's impact on medical and nursing students requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine prematurity stereotypes among Israeli medical and nursing students.
  • To assess how these stereotypes affect expectations for infant development and maternal behavior.
  • To explore variations in stereotyping based on student experience and goal orientation.

Main Methods:

  • 158 Israeli medical and nursing students were randomly assigned to view infants labeled 'full-term' or 'premature'.
  • A goal condition evaluated judgment accuracy for half the participants.
  • Participants rated infants on growth, development, and maternal behavior expectations.

Main Results:

  • Students demonstrated significant stereotyping, rating premature infants more negatively.
  • Stereotype content differed by healthcare provider type; pre-clinical students showed higher stereotyping than upper-level students.
  • Limited effects of the goal condition were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Stereotypes significantly impact interpersonal processes, including caregiver-patient interactions.
  • Findings highlight the need to address stereotypes in medical education to improve patient care.
  • Student level influences both the degree of stereotyping and communication approach with mothers.

More Related Videos

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
The Availability Heuristic01:08

The Availability Heuristic

A heuristic is a general problem-solving framework (Tversky & Kahneman, 1974). You can think of these as mental shortcuts that are used to solve problems. Different types of heuristics are used in different types of situations, and the impulse to use a heuristic occurs when one of five conditions is met (Pratkanis, 1989):
Preventive Healthcare Services01:30

Preventive Healthcare Services

Preventive healthcare services keep people healthy via frequent check-ups, screening, and counseling. They primarily aid in disease prevention rather than treating an acute or chronic illness. Preventive treatment also keeps individuals productive and energetic, allowing them to work well into their retirement years. Examples of preventive care services include:
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures01:22

Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures

Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies01:29

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...