The impact of geropsychology training.

What effect does a geropsychology practicum placement have on graduate students' knowledge of and attitudes toward older adults? Ninety psychology externs and interns were surveyed at the beginning of the training year and then 9 months later. About half of the trainees provided services in settings that served older adults, whereas the remainder did not. At the end of training, those with a geropsychology placement maintained higher interest in geropsychology, had lower negative attitudes toward older people, and had greater knowledge of mental health and aging than trainees without a geropsychology placement. There were no differences between the two placement groups in knowledge of general facts on aging and positive attitudes toward the aged. The implications of the findings for graduate program directors, training psychologists, and graduate students are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research training in counseling psychology: Some preliminary data.

Surveyed 35 current students (aged 21–40 yrs) and 34 PhD graduates (aged 28–52 yrs) from a graduate program in counseling psychology to assess (a) whether attitudes toward research changed during and after graduate school and (b) what activities/factors within graduate training affect research skill and interest. Using a combination of current and retrospective reports, it was found that although Ss at all levels perceived their training program's expectations for research as greater than students' own wants, students' interest in research (doing and valuing) increased as they progressed through training and afterwards. Three factors within graduate training that facilitate interest and skill in research are hypothesized: (1) social/interpersonal interaction; (2) training in applied, practical, and less traditional approaches to research; and (3) early, active involvement in research. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attitudes toward older adults reported by young adults: Variation based on attitudinal task and attribute categories.

Negative attitudes toward older adults are thought to be prevalent within the American culture. However, research on attitudes presents conflicting results. In this study, 2 factors were hypothesized to influence reported attitudes toward older adults: the attitudinal instrument used (a rating task vs. an open-ended task) and the types of attributes assessed (cognitive, personal-expressive, and physical). The results confirmed that attitudes toward older adults were negative relative to attitudes toward younger and middle-aged adults, but the pattern of negativity differed by task and attribute category. Negativity was most apparent in the open-ended task and in the physical category. These results indicate that although general, negative stereotypes may exist, older adults are viewed as multidimensional people with both positive and negative attributes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Doctoral internship training opportunities in clinical geropsychology.

What types of internship training opportunities are there for psychology graduate students interested in working with older adults? The authors summarize characteristics of 65 doctoral psychology internships self-identified as offering training opportunities in clinical geropsychology. The internships appear to have the resources, staff, training placements, and training experiences that are at least adequate, and in most programs, much more than adequate, for generalist training in aging. Internship programs at facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs compose a major resource in clinical geropsychology training. Practical suggestions are offered to graduate students interested in obtaining geropsychology training during internship and to internship program directors who may want to offer such training. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Doctoral candidates' attitudes toward models of professional training.

Administered a questionnaire to 226 clinical graduate students from scientist-professional programs (SPP) and 223 graduate students from professional school programs (PSP) to assess attitudes toward their current training program's curriculum. Findings show that 85% of PSP and 70% of SPP Ss expressed positive attitudes. When divided into those aspiring to applied practice, research, and combined applied/research careers, 67% of SPP Ss who aspired to applied practice careers (28% of this sample) expressed preference for a professional school training model. In contrast, two-thirds or more of PSP Ss in all career-aspiration categories expressed a preference to remain in their existing programs. Findings were consistent across age, sex, entry degree, and internship experience. Results are discussed in relation to Vail Conference recommendations and forces that shape psychology graduate curricula. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictors of working with older adults in an Australian psychologist sample: Revisiting the influence of contact.

Despite increasing numbers of older people in most global populations and increasing evidence of the efficacy of psychological therapy in older clinical populations, few psychologists work with older clients as compared with other clinical groups. In the present research, the authors examine potential influences on psychologists choosing to specialize in working in the field of aging. The authors surveyed 1,498 psychologists Australia-wide to examine which factors exerted the most influence on choosing to specialize in clinical work with older clients. Clinical exposure to older clients and age-related course content within training programs, together with further education external to formal training, were significantly correlated with specializing in aged care. Holding a more negative attitude toward one's own aging was another predictor of specialist category membership, with interest in working with older clients also being a significant factor based on direct logistic regression analysis. In contrast to previous work, amount or quality of contact with older persons did not appear to relate to working with older adults. These findings highlight the importance of quality training experiences in influencing attitudes toward working with older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluating the impact of child-centered play therapy training.

The researchers designed this study to determine the effects of a comprehensive child-centered play therapy training course for beginning play therapy graduate students in (1) improving positive attitudes and beliefs toward children, (2) improving play therapy knowledge, (3) improving confidence in applying play therapy skills, (4) reducing dominance tendencies in trainees, and (5) reducing intellectual efficiency in trainees. Results of the analyses of covariance reveal that students in the experimental group demonstrated a significant improvement in their positive attitudes and beliefs toward children, play therapy knowledge, confidence in applying play therapy skills and a significant reduction in their dominance tendency and intellectual efficiency. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

AIDS/HIV and university students in Delhi, India: knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors

Eight hundred eighty-seven students in social work, nursing, and humanities from two major universities in Delhi were compared regarding their knowledge about AIDS/HIV and attitudes toward PWAs and homosexuals. Their scores on the 20-item knowledge test indicate fair degree of knowledge; however, they lacked information in crucial areas of AIDS prevention and human sexual anatomy. Unmarried, female and older students and those in social work and nursing disciplines scored significantly higher on correct answers. Social work students were likely to be more positive in their attitudes toward AIDS victims than those in nursing or humanities. Knowledge was positively related to attitudes and perception of risk. Despite their awareness of personal risks only four in ten used condoms sometimes during intercourse. Educational strategies to increase cognitive and affective understanding of AIDS and its victims are discussed.     

Cohort differences in attitudes toward mental health services among older persons.

In order to investigate historical shifts in attitudes toward mental health and mental health services, two independent samples of older adults separated by a 14-year time interval were administered questionnaires. There were 91 in the 1977 sample (mean age 69.91 yrs) and 116 in the 1991 sample (mean age 71.94 yrs). Four newly created, internally consistent scales assessed multiple dimensions of their mental health attitudes (breadth of conceptions, bias, openness to help, range of problems). Analyses suggested that the younger cohorts of older adults held more positive attitudes toward mental health and mental health services than the older cohorts. These cohort differences remained when controlled for age, level of education, self-reported health, and income. These data indicate a positive cohort shift in attitudes toward mental health, a finding with numerous implications for the design and implementation of mental health services for future cohorts of older persons. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Older Adult Disability Scale: Development and validation.

Examined the development and validity of the Older Adult Disability Scale (OADS), a self-report instrument designed to measure attitudes toward older adults (aged 60 yrs and older) with physical disabilities. Data from a community sample (n ?=?207) were used for alpha coefficients, subscale intercorrelations, demographic correlations, and factor analyses. Data from a reliability sample (n ?=?27) were used for a 2-week test-retest reliability check; and data from an identified "positive attitude" sample of health care professionals and students (n ?=?57) were used to test construct validity. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed resulting in a 36-item instrument with four subscales of Cranky Dependency, Discomfort with Aging, Positive Attributes of Aging, and Negative Expectations of Disability. Satisfactory internal consistency, high test-retest reliability, and moderately high subscale intercorrelations were found. Validity was supported by the highly significant differences in OADS scores between the "positive attitude" and community samples. In conclusion, the OADS provides a promising measure of attitudes toward older adults with disabilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attitudes towards people with disabilities between Chinese rehabilitation and business students: An implication for practice.

Objective: To study the effects of curriculum on changing the attitudes of students toward people with disabilities. Participants: Seventy-three rehabilitation students and 107 business students in either their 1st or 3rd year at a Chinese university. Main Outcome Measures: The Attitude Towards Disabled Persons (ATDP) Scale and a questionnaire on course work and personal experience. Results: At the end of the 1st year, rehabilitation students had significantly more positive attitudes, whereas the business students were more negative. In the 3rd year, these attitudes were also found among both groups of students. Conclusion: Rehabilitation psychologists should expand their practice to foster positive attitudinal changes in students in nonrehabilitation programs, which helps create a positive environment for people with disabilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Older Adults.

Presents the American Psychological Association Guidelines for psychological practice with older adults. The present document is intended to assist psychologists in evaluating their own readiness for working clinically with older adults and in seeking and using appropriate education and training to increase their knowledge, skills, and experience relevant to this area of practice, when desired and appropriate. The specific goals of these guidelines are to provide practitioners with (a) a frame of reference for engaging in clinical work with older adults and (b) basic information and further references in the areas of attitudes, general aspects of aging, clinical issues, assessment, intervention, consultation, and continuing education and training relative to work with older adults. These guidelines build on, and are intended to be entirely consistent with, the APA's (2002a) "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" and other APA policies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Issues in the education and training of women in Canadian psychology.

The high attrition rate of female students in graduate programmes in psychology is documented. Some of the literature (largely American) on the problems of female students is explored for possible reasons for this high rate. The problem areas identified are: admissions practices, financial support, inflexibility of graduate programmes, faculty attitudes toward graduate students, scarcity of female role models, and psychology as a "masculine" discipline. Recommendations for action by the Canadian Psychological Association are made in each of the problem areas with a special plea for the inclusion, in both graduate and undergraduate psychology programmes, of courses on the female experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attitudes of psychologists in training toward persons with AIDS.

Clinical and counseling graduate students (N?=?266) from 8 different universities read a vignette that described a hypothetical patient as having either AIDS or leukemia. These psychologists in training then completed a scale that measured attitudes toward the hypothetical patient. Results indicated that psychologists in training had some attitudes toward AIDS patients that were less positive than their attitudes toward identically described leukemia patients. However, psychologists in training were more willing to interact with AIDS patients and to accept them as psychotherapy clients than were psychologists studied in earlier research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Australian and South African undergraduates' HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors

To understand safe sex behavior in two countries which have been differentially affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the present study compared the AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of 920 heterosexual undergraduate students in Australia and 228 heterosexual undergraduate students in South Africa. South African students were found to have significantly less knowledge about HIV/AIDS, and significantly less favorable attitudes toward safe sex behavior than their Australian counterparts. They were also more likely to report that they have avoided various groups of people for fear of contracting AIDS. Experience from Australia over the period 1986-1995 suggests that significant improvements in the AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of South African undergraduates are achievable.     

Attitude, knowledge, and skill competencies for practice in professional geropsychology: Implications for training and building a geropsychology workforce.

Professional geropsychology is a growing area of practice and training. To meet the mental health needs of an aging population, increasing numbers of psychologists need to develop competence to work with older adults, their families, and related care systems. The Pikes Peak model for geropsychology training (Knight, Karel, Hinrichsen, Qualls, & Duffy, 2009) delineates attitude, knowledge, and skill competencies for professional geropsychology practice and makes recommendations for training. In this paper, we define and illustrate the Pikes Peak geropsychology practice competencies through a case example. In the case, an older man with complex needs seeks care through a generalist psychologist in an outpatient setting. The attitudes, knowledge, and skills that the psychologist needs to consider, and implications for training, are reviewed. Training recommendations and resources are provided, with a focus on the training needs of psychologists who wish to expand their practices to include older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The immunological aspects of systemic enzyme therapy in the combined treatment of recurrent nephrolithiasis

BACKGROUND: Despite the popularity of complementary therapies with the public, knowledge and use of these therapies among doctors appear limited. However, studies show that physicians and medical students are positive toward complementary therapies and have a high level of interest in learning about them. METHODS: The attitudes of medical students toward complementary therapies were examined using a questionnaire distributed to 800 first-, third-, and fifth-year medical students at two universities in Melbourne, Australia. RESULTS: The survey revealed that whereas Australian medical students were positive toward complementary therapies, their self-reported knowledge was low, with 56% having no knowledge of the principles of complementary therapies. Attitudes toward different therapies were found to vary widely, with students having little knowledge of chiropractic and naturopathy, the two therapies most commonly used by Australians. Students consistently scored meditation, massage, and acupuncture the highest with regard to knowledge, perceived usefulness, intended patterns of referral after graduation, and desire for education in the undergraduate degree. CONCLUSIONS: When the medical course included some tuition on complementary therapies, students were more positive toward them. A single lecture on complementary therapies was found to have significant impact on medical students' views. Medical students have a high level of interest in complementary therapies that is not being satisfied by their undergraduate curricula.     

Addressing a state''s physician workforce priorities through the funding of graduate medical education: the TennCare model

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in second-, third-, and fourth-year medical students' knowledge of bloodborne pathogen exposure risks, as well as their attitudes toward, and intentions to comply with, Universal Precautions (UP). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Surveys about students' knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to comply with UP were completed by 111 second-year (preclinical), 80 third-year, and 60 fourth-year medical students at Washington University School of Medicine in the spring of 1996. RESULTS: Preclinical students knew more than clinical students about the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine, use of antiretroviral therapy after occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus, and nonvaccinated healthcare workers' risk of infection from needlestick injuries (P<.001). Students' perceived risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens and attitudes toward hepatitis B vaccine did not differ, but preclinical students agreed more strongly that they should double glove for all invasive procedures with sharps (P<.001). Clinical students agreed more strongly with reporting only high-risk needlestick injuries (P=.057) and with rationalizations against using UP (P=.008). Preclinical students more frequently reported contemplating or preparing to comply with double gloving, wearing protective eyewear, reporting all exposures, and safely disposing of sharps, whereas students with clinical experience were more likely to report compliance. Clinical students also were more likely to report having "no plans" to practice the first three of these precautions (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to comply with UP between students with and without clinical experience may have important implications for the timing and content of interventions designed to improve compliance with UP.     

Psychologists' role in the provision of mental health care for the elderly.

7,326 clinical and counseling psychologists were sent a 3-page questionnaire that requested information regarding attitudes toward, knowledge of, and practices with mature and older adults. The response rate was 19%. Results indicate that although psychologists may have some stereotyped impressions of the aged, they generally have some basic knowledge about the aging process. They are interested in learning more about this area and are interested in seeking out aged clients so that adequate care may be provided. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multivariate analysis of male and female professional career choice correlates.

Personality, aptitude, achievement, and social-demographic characteristics of graduate students in 4 professional degree programs were investigated in a comparative multivariate analysis of the correlates of professional career choice. 173 male and 175 female 1st-yr graduate students in 2 traditionally male fields (law and management) and 2 traditionally female fields (education and social work) completed an extensive questionnaire. Results confirmed the central hypothesis of the study: Differences across careers for each variable were greater than differences between the sexes within careers. In contrast to previous findings, no significant sex differences were found in assertiveness, locus of control, or Machiavellianism. Sex differences were primarily confined to the variables relating to psychological masculinity–femininity and sex role attitudes. The limitations of the current design are noted, and it is stressed that these findings are correlational in nature. Preexisting dispositions and attitudes may be the best predictors of professional career choice, although it is equally possible that these attitudes and attributes are adopted after people have made their career choices (i.e., during graduate school). (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)