Careful construction means that the RASE examines beliefs in potential ability to perform tasks, rather than actual ability, performance or outcome expectancy. It shows good face validity and reliability, plus reasonable construct validity and sensitivity. Further studies are needed to support the validation of this new scale.

Patients offered education gained knowledge and reported personal benefit, but only improved in self-efficacy for pain and only for a short time. RA patients drawn from hospital outpatient clinics and allocated to an educational intervention may not gain changes in health status as measured by the instruments employed in this study.

A study was conducted to measure the attitudes of immediate neighbours to people with intellectual disabilities who move from hospitals into ordinary houses. Some neighbours in the area under study had demonstrated overt hostility towards the newcomers. 83 neighbours of 17 established homes were interviewed once, and 67 neighbours of 9 planned homes were interviewed three times: before the newcomers arrived, within a month of their arrival, and one year later. It was found that the majority of the neighbours' attitudes over all time scales, as measured by a constructed attitude instrument, were positive. It was also found that attitudes became significantly more positive over time ( p < 0.0000). Neighbours' opinions on community care and their general expectations about the newcomers were also surveyed. The implications for attitude research are discussed. It is suggested that the neighbour's protests and hostility came from a vociferous, yet sometimes effective, minority.

No abstract