Veterans Administration hospital staff attitudes toward alcoholism

Attitudes toward alcoholism among psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing assistants (464 subjects) were surveyed. A nine-factor questionnaire was utilized (emotional difficulties, character defect, social status, illness conception, harmless indulgence and addiction liability). All groups were homogeneous in their perceptions about emotional difficulties contributing to alcoholism, alcoholics not coming from the lower socioeconomic strata of society, and the belief that alcoholics did recover and could be helped by treatment. Age, sex, and special training in the treatment of alcoholism did not have any significant influence on attitudes. All groups believed that periodic excessive drinkers could be alcoholics. None of the groups believed that the alcoholic had a character defect. Psychologists disbelieved the concepts of illness and addiction liability. All groups disagreed with harmless indulgence. Nursing assistants tended to see the alcoholic as a harmless heavy drinker. Working on a special alcoholism treatment unit did not alter the perceptions of psychiatrists, psychologists and nursing assistants. Social workers and registered nurses showed only a minor trend toward a positive attitude change, while the trend went in the opposite direction for licensed practical nurses.