Effects of Information on Patient Stereotyping

Abstract

The influence of information on nurse attitudes and behavior toward a member of a stereotyped group was investigated. Responsibility for the decision to be childless and the intelligence of the person making that decision were manipulated. Student nurses individually interacted with a hypothetical, childless, female patient, presented via audiotape, who was about to undergo surgery for sterilization. The patient was described (a) as seeking sterilization either voluntarily or because of medical necessity, and (b) as either retarded or not classified intellectually. It was hypothesized that the patient who freely chose childlessness would be viewed and treated less positively when thought to be of normal intelligence. When the patient was mildly retarded or seeking sterilization out of medical necessity, however, more positive attitudes and behavior were expected. Both of these hypotheses were supported. The results of this study support the importance of contextual variables on perceptions of patients.

Nursing student–patient relationship: a review of the literature from 1984 to 1998

“…The quantitative studies used questionnaires or other test instruments ( n =42) as their data collection method, either alone or in combination with evaluations or ratings of videotaped interviews, interactions or role‐play ( n =4), ratings of audiotaped interviews or interactions ( n =4), semistructured interviews ( n =1), participant observation ( n =1), process recordings ( n =1) or responses to case presentations ( n =1). Stimuli (for example, slides, audiotapes, videotapes or written case studies) were sometimes applied prior to the participant’s answering the questionnaire (Devellis et al . 1984, Brettell 1987, Davis & Jameton 1987, Haggerty 1987).…”

Nursing students' stereotypes of married and unmarried pregnant clients

“…First, in the DeVellis, Adams, and DeVellis (1984) study person-centeredness of verbal responses was evaluated, and in the present study, Response Modes of written responses were coded. Second, in the DeVellis et al (1984) study, students' attitudes toward retarded and nonretarded women seeking sterilization were assessed. There could be a stronger negative stereotype held toward women seeking sterilization than toward unmarried pregnant women seeking prenatal care, which would explain the differing results.…”

The effect of clients' family structure on nursing students' cognitive schemas and verbal behavior

“…In this study, verbal responses by the nursing students were coded by one of three researchers with a coding scheme developed by Matthews (1962) and modified by DeVellis, Adams, and DeVellis (1984) that was designed to measure the person-centered quality of nurse responses to patients. Verbal responses were divided into individual utterances that were rated for person-centeredness on a scale from 1 to 5, with more person-centered responses receiving lower ratings.…”