Date of Award
2008
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Supervisor
Philip Doyle, Ph.D.
Abstract
This study explored four groups of health care practitioners to determine differential
stigma of individuals with head and neck cancer (HNCa) based on perceived cause of illness. Attribution and labeling theories were utilized. Participants included 39 Otolaryngologists (HNCa surgeons) and 34 Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), both with moderate/extensive self-identified HNCa experience; and 41 SLPs and 19 Family Practitioners, both with limited/no self-identified HNCa experience. Using the 15-item Judgments in Health Care Questionnaire, participants rated their perception of an individual described as having either onset-controllable or onset- uncontrollable HNCa via written vignette. Data were analyzed using MANOVA. Results suggest that health care practitioners rated an individual with perceived onset- controllable HNCa with increased ratings specific to anger, responsibility, and as being more deserving of their illness than one with onset-uncontrollable HNCa. Judgments of pity, suffering, and enthusiasm towards helping were consistently rated across both vignettes. Data was iinterpreted consistent with previous attribution and labelling research.
Recommended Citation
Rasmussen, Scott M., "JUDGMENTS IN HEALTH CARE: THE STIGMATIZATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCER BY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS" (2008). Digitized Theses. 4900.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4900