Open AccessPersonal attributes and attitudes to substance use disorder: A study among Jordanian undergraduate medical majors students
Author(s) -
Sawsan Abuhammad,
Reem Hatamleh,
Mohammad Alrawashdeh,
Nasr Alrabadi,
Tareq L. Mukattash,
Mai Abuhammad,
Kimberly A. S. Howard
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0263442
Subject(s) - affect (linguistics) , scale (ratio) , psychology , descriptive statistics , substance abuse , health care , mental health , cross sectional study , health professionals , clinical psychology , positive attitude , medical education , medicine , psychiatry , social psychology , statistics , physics , mathematics , communication , pathology , quantum mechanics , economics , economic growth
Background Emerging health professionals in undergraduate programs should be equipped to provide care to people with substance use disorder (SUD). The students’ personal attributes may impact their attitude toward those with SUD. This study aims to evaluate the impact of personal attributes of Jordanian undergraduate health students on their attitudes toward SUD and examine the relationship between the personal attributes and their devaluation and discriminatory (stigmatory) behaviour toward those with SUD. Method A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to examine the attitudes and stigmatory behaviours. The data were collected between May to October 2017 with a structured questionnaire that consisted of three parts: 1) a data sheet to collect the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, 2) the Acute Mental Health Scale (ATAMHS), and 3) the Devaluation-Discrimination Scale (DDS). Findings Younger and females demonstrated a positive attitude toward those with SUD compared to older or male students. Age, gender, and previous experience with SUD are significant factors that affect their attitude. Conclusion Identifying the attitude to people with SUD and personal attributes of emerging health professionals in Jordan will help identify the need to educate them prior to their entry into practice.