Attitudes toward cancer: I. The impact of a comprehensive oncology course on second-year medical students.

This study focuses on the change in medical students' attitudes toward cancer and related issues when the factual knowledge concerning the contemporary treatment of the cancer patient is increased. The Cancer Attitude Survey, as instrument consisting of 33 original items developed by Haley et al.9 and 27 additional items developed by the present authors, was administered to a sophomore class of medical students before and after on oncology course. Depsite the absence of formal attempts to teach specific attitudes, significant changes in attitudes were observed in responses to 18 of the 60 items (30%). After completing the course, students were more likely to favor an active role both for the patient and for the physician en each stage of the treatment process. Although students were more likely to favor aggressive treatment, they also indicated that appropriate limit should be set. Implications for teaching and for further research on attitudes and behavior are noted.