The effect of clinical curriculum in enhancing students’ attitudes toward persons with disabilities

Abstract

toward persons with disabilities and to evaluate the effectiveness of the clinical curriculum in influencing students’ attitudes. The Attitude Toward Disabled People Questionnaire (ATDP) was administered to students in occupational therapy (OT) and business (BUS) programs. Repeated measures were conducted as the students progressed through the programs. Numbers of students participated in the study were: 39 (93/94), 36 (94/95), and 34 (95/96) OT students; and 55 (93/94) and 53 (95/96) BUS students. No significant difference in ATDP scores was found between first year (95/96) students in the two programs p < .05). However, attitudes of the third year (93/94) OT students were more positive than their BUS counterpart p < .05). No significant differences in attitudes were identified among the three years of OT students. For students without prior knowledge of and contact with the disabled, course work and clinical practicum during the first year OT program were effective in enhancing students’ attitudes 0, < .05). Their effects became insignificant on students with prior knowledge and contact with the disabled. Once developed, students’ positive attitudes were maintained throughout the program. Findings of this study further confirmed Yale’s model of attitudes change. Besides the training in professional specific skills, academic work and clinical practicum were crucial in the development of caring clinical practitioners.