Differences in attitudes toward patients among medical specialties

In a prior study a questionnaire was developed which reliably measured a variety of physicians' attitudes toward patients. In the present study we have used this questionnaire to compare the attitudes of physicians specializing in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics and Psychiatry with one another and with a group of medical students. One way analyses of variance yielded highly significant differences (p less than .001) among these groups on the "Nurturant-Empathic" attitudinal dimension, as well as on the "Psychodynamic" and "Moral Weakness" Etiology Scales. Significance and ramifications of these findings are discussed in terms of the impact of these attitudes on treatment approach, clinical decision-making, and quality and comprehensiveness of patient care. Further, these findings suggest that a variety of education and training approaches could be advantageously utilized to integrate and upgrade the care of patients by the different medical specialties.