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Development and validation of the Attitudes Towards the Homeless Questionnaire
Author(s) -
Helen Lester,
Helen Pattison
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
medical education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1365-2923
pISSN - 0308-0110
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2923.2000.00495.x
Subject(s) - cronbach's alpha , psychology , reliability (semiconductor) , test (biology) , mental health , psychological intervention , medical education , clinical psychology , applied psychology , psychometrics , gerontology , medicine , psychiatry , paleontology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Context The homeless are a significant group within society, which is increasing in size. They have demonstrably greater physical and mental health needs than the housed, and yet often have difficulty accessing primary health care. Medical ‘reluctance’ to look after homeless people is increasingly suggested as part of the problem. Medical education may have a role in ameliorating this. Objectives This paper reports on the development and validation of a questionnaire specifically developed to measure medical students’ attitudes towards the homeless. Method and results The Attitudes Towards the Homeless Questionnaire, developed using the views of over 370 medical students, was shown to have a Pearson test–retest reliability correlation coefficient of 0·8 and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0·74. Conclusions The Attitudes Towards the Homeless Questionnaire appears to be a valid and reliable instrument, which can measure students’ attitudes towards the homeless. It could be a useful tool in assessing the effectiveness of educational interventions.