Attitudes towards and knowledge about homosexuality among medical students in Zagreb [Stavovi i znanja o homoseksualnosti u studenata Medicinskog fakulteta u Zagrebu]

Grabovac, Igor and Abramović, Marija and Komlenović, Gordana and Milošević, Milan and Mustajbegović, Jadranka (2014) Attitudes towards and knowledge about homosexuality among medical students in Zagreb [Stavovi i znanja o homoseksualnosti u studenata Medicinskog fakulteta u Zagrebu]. Collegium Antropologicum, 38 (1). pp. 39-45. ISSN 0350-6134

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate whether students in their fifth and sixth years of medical school in Zagreb have homophobic attitudes and assess their knowledge about homosexuality. A survey was conducted among fifth and sixth year medical students during the 2009/2010 academic year. The survey consisted of general demographic data, two validated questionnaires--"Knowledge about Homosexuality Questionnaire" and "Heterosexual Attitudes towards Homosexuality Scale"--and questions about personal experiences created for this study. The mean knowledge scores were X = 14.8 out of 20. Furthermore, gender differences in attitudes were observed, indicating less negative attitudes among the female participants. The regression model was significant (ANOVA: Sum of Squares = 38.065; df = 17, Mean Square= 2239, F = 10.6; p < 0.001) with 38% of explained variance. The significant predictor variables that indicate lower attitudes about homosexuality score were female gender (beta= -0.14, p = 0.015), sixth year of study (beta = -0.16, p = 0.009) and more knowledge about homosexuality (beta = -0.48, p < 0.001). Negative attitudes are present among the students; therefore, educational efforts should be included in the curricula of medical schools to diminish the negative perceptions of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Abstract in Croatian

Cilj istraživanja je saznati postoje li homofobni stavovi među studentima pete i šeste godine Medicinskog fakulteta u Zagrebu te procijeniti njihovo znanje o homoseksualnosti. S tim ciljem provedena je anketa među studentima završnih godina tijekom akademske godine 2009/2010. Provedena anketa sastojala se od četiri dijela: općih sociodemografskih podataka, dva validirana upitnika »Knowledge about Homosexuality Questionnaire« i »Heterosexual Attitudes towards Homosexuality Scale« te pitanja o osobnim iskustvima. Srednja vrijednost rezultata upitnika znanja iznosila su X=14,8 od 20 mogućih bodova. Također, uočene su razlike u stavovima među spolovima, ukazujući na manje negativne stavove među ženskim sudionicama. Regresijski model bio je signifikantan (ANOVA: zbroj kvadrata=38,065; df=17, sredina kvadrata=2239, F=10,6; p<0,001) s 38% objašnjene varijance. Signifikantne prediktorske varijable koje ukazuju na pozitivnije stavove su ženski spol (beta=–0,14, p=0,015), šesta godina studija (beta=–0,16, p=0,009), i viši rezultat na testu znanja o homoseksualnosti (beta=–0,48, p<0,001). Negativni stavovi su prisutni među studentima. Stoga je potrebno usmjeriti napore u podučavanju studenata o pitanjima ljudske seksualnosti kako bi se smanjile negativne percepcije homoseksualnih, biseksualnih i transrodnih osoba.

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