The ATP 30-a scale for measuring medical students' attitudes to psychiatry

Abstract

The development and validation of a thirty item, Likert-type scale designed to measure medical students' attitudes to psychiatry-the ATP-30 (Attitudes Toward Psychiatry-30 items)-are described. We had hoped to demonstrate that 'attitude to psychiatry' was not a unitary matter but an amalgam of attitudes to a number of things to do with psychiatric practice. This hope was not fulfilled, as a unitary dimension was obtained. A positive change in the attitudes of students toward psychiatry was demonstrated in third and fourth medical year students in relation to exposure to psychiatry. Such a change was not demonstrable in two classes of occupational therapy students exposed to a course in psychiatry. The reasons for this difference between medical students and occupational therapy students are discussed-there possibly being important implications here for psychiatric curriculum planning in medical school. Lastly, we have demonstrated that the positive change in attitudes amongst medical students was transient rather than lasting-a matter which most studies of attitude change do not address. In spite of the apparent impermanence of the positive change in attitudes among medical students, there are a number of possible used to a scale such as the ATP-30, and these are discussed.

Influence of educational programs on attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry: Effects of psychiatric experience, gender, and personality dimensions

“…psychiatric problems (Burra et al 1982;Sloan et al 1996;Strebel et al 2000). Attitudes of female students were more positive than those of male students (Baptista et al 1993;Kuhnigk et al 2007).…”

“…Furthermore, it has been shown that attitudes are related to speciality; yet, it still remains unclear whether professional socialization reinforces existing attitudes or whether existing attitudes result in speciality preference (Batenburg et al 1999). (3) Effects of medical curriculum on attitudes towards psychiatry: A positive change in attitudes towards psychiatry in medical students could be shown most often after their exposure to psychiatry and completion of psychiatric courses (Burra et al 1982;Chung & Prasher 1995;Sloan et al 1996). However, this effect declined significantly over time during undergraduate training (Baxter et al 2001;Altindag et al 2006).…”

“…The 30-item questionnaire 'Attitudes Towards Psychiatry-30' (ATP-30) was developed by Burra et al (1982) to study attitudes towards various aspects of psychiatry on the basis of a 5-point Likert scale. This scale measures attitudes towards mental illnesses, psychiatric patients, psychiatric institutions and psychiatrists, teaching, knowledge, and career choice.…”

“…To measure attitudes instruments are necessary which disclose a certain quality standard and can be used easily. These requirements were accomplished in 1982 with a test for 'Attitudes Towards Psychiatry' (ATP-30) developed by Burra et al (1982). This validated self-assessment questionnaire allows comparisons between universities, different educational systems and countries.…”

Medical students’ experience and perceptions of their final rotation in psychiatry

“…the ATP-30 [37] or Balon et al 's [38] questionnaire to measure students' attitudes towards psychiatry or instruments measuring the effect of a rotation on a future career choice in psychiatry). According to El-Gilany et al, [39] '[e]xisting literature … suggests that the quality of the psychiatry clerkship during medical school may be the most important modifiable influence on recruitment into psychiatry. '…”