Cancer opinionnaire: Medical students' attitudes toward psychosocial cancer care

Abstract

A questionnaire assessing attitudes toward psychosocial cancer care (the Cancer Opinionnaire) was constructed. Factor analysis revealed five factors: outcome expectations; candor; interest in treating cancer; psychosocial concerns: role of the physician; and psychosocial concerns: importance to the patient. Reliabilities ranged from 0.68 to 0.82. A multivariate analysis of variance indicated that second‐year students, who had been exposed to a required first‐year course stressing biopsychosocial concerns of medical care, expressed more positive attitudes than did entering firs ‐year students. Additionally, female medical students expressed more positive attitudes than did male students. Addressing biopsychosocial concerns in the beginning of medical education may help establish a more open and fertile ground upon which later training will be received.Cancer 58:801‐806, 1986. Copyright © 1986 American Cancer Society