Geelhoed Michael A, Callaway Suzanne M, Cruz Jessica M, Subramanian Sandeep K
Dep. of Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MSC 6247, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. Tel 210-567-8750, fax 210-567-8774.
J Allied Health. 2019 Fall;48(3):220-225.
Homelessness is a national epidemic and individuals experiencing homelessness have decreased access to healthcare services. At the same time, physical therapy (PT) educational programs are required to teach students about cultural competence, pro-bono service, and advocacy for underserved populations. Having PT students provide pro-bono services to this population in a supervised environment is a mutually beneficial scenario for the patients, students, and the PT program.
The study objective was to evaluate whether participating in a student-run free clinic (SRFC) at a homeless shelter could change PT students' attitudes towards individuals experiencing homelessness.
Forty DPT students completed the Health Professionals' Attitude Toward the Homeless Inventory (HPATHI) with 19 volunteering (experimental group) to participate in the SRFC. The HPATHI was administered again immediately following participation in the SRFC to assess if their attitudes had changed.
Baseline scores differed between the control and experimental group (p=0.03). However, post-scores of the experimental group did not differ compared to pre-scores. The subsequent analysis estimated differences on 4 of 19 questions, specifically within the personal advocacy and social advocacy subscales.
Overall, PT students' attitudes did not change significantly after one session of volunteering at an SRFC in a homeless shelter. However, small changes were seen in personal and social advocacy subscales of the HPATHI.
无家可归是一种全国性的流行病，无家可归者获得医疗服务的机会减少。与此同时，物理治疗（PT）教育项目要求向学生传授文化能力、公益服务以及为弱势群体进行宣传的知识。让PT专业学生在监督环境下为这一群体提供公益服务，对患者、学生和PT项目来说是一种互利的情况。
本研究的目的是评估参与无家可归者收容所的学生运营免费诊所（SRFC）是否会改变PT专业学生对无家可归者的态度。
40名DPT专业学生完成了医疗专业人员对无家可归者态度量表（HPATHI），其中19名志愿者（实验组）参与了SRFC。在参与SRFC后立即再次进行HPATHI测试，以评估他们的态度是否发生了变化。
对照组和实验组的基线分数存在差异（p = 0.03）。然而，实验组的测试后分数与测试前分数相比没有差异。后续分析估计了19个问题中4个问题的差异，特别是在个人宣传和社会宣传子量表中。
总体而言，PT专业学生在无家可归者收容所的SRFC进行一次志愿服务后，态度没有显著变化。然而，在HPATHI的个人和社会宣传子量表中观察到了微小变化。
