A perspective on medical students' perceptions of alcoholics and alcoholism.

Abstract

In an intensive, 1 mo.-long clinical course with students about to enter medical school, attitudes toward alcoholics were examined. The students'' attitudes toward alcoholics as persons and as patients were seen both as initially negative and as being based on cultural stereotypes related to the causes and nature of alcoholism and to the proper role of the physician. In an educational format which involves clinical contact and small group discussion, these negative views of alcoholics as persons are easily changed. Changes in the negative views of alcoholics as patients require reexamination of the physician''s role. Students'' views of the physician''s role tend to be narrowly defined, tied to administration of etiologically based cures, use of technological procedures and emphasis on curing rather than caring functions. Students who are more mature apparently have a better understanding of alcoholics'' problems and the treatment of alcoholism is similar to the treatment of other chronic diseases.