Table 2 Median scores and interquartile ranges (IQR) for HPATHI items by medical training
HPATHI Item | Overall (n = 371) | Medical students (Year 1–2) (n = 178) | Medical students (Year 3–4) (n = 142) | ER Residents and staff (n = 51) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attitudes | 4.0 (3.7-4.2) | 4.0 (3.7-4.2) | 3.9 (3.7-4.2) | 3.9 (3.6-4.1) | 0.059 |
Homeless people are victims of circumstances | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 3 (3–4) | 0.019§ |
Homeless people have the right to basic health care | 5 (5–5) | 5 (5–5) | 5 (4.75-5) | 5 (5–5) | 0.860 |
Homelessness is a major problem in our society | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–4) | 4 (4–5) | 0.904 |
I understand that my patients’ priorities may be more important to them than following my medical recommendationsx | 4 (4–4) | 4 (4–4) | 4 (4–4) | 4 (4–4) | 0.098 |
Health-care dollars should be directed toward serving the poor and homelessx | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 0.619 |
Doctors should address the physical and social problems of the homeless | 4 (4–4) | 4 (4–4) | 4 (4–4) | 4 (3–4) | 0.001§ |
I believe social justice is an important part of health care† | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–5) | 4 (3.75-5) | 4 (3–4) | 0.192 |
Homeless people are lazy (reverse) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 0.641 |
Homeless people choose to be homeless (reverse) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 0.813 |
Interest | 3.6 (3.4-4.0) | 3.8 (3.4-4.2) | 3.7 (3.4-4.0) | 3.4 (3.0-3.8) | 0.002 |
I entered medicine because I want to help those in needx | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–5) | 0.007 |
I am interested in working with the underservedx | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 0.042 |
I enjoy addressing psychosocial issues with patientsx | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 2 (2–4) | <0.001§ |
I enjoy learning about the lives of my homeless patientsx | 3 (3–4) | 3 (3–4) | 3 (3–4) | 3 (2–3) | 0.001§ |
I resent the amount of time it takes to see homeless patients (reverse)‡ | 4 (3–4) | 3 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 4 (3–4) | 0.221 |
Confidence | 3.5 (3.3-4.0) | 3.5 (3.3-4.0) | 3.5 (3.3-3.8) | 3.8 (3.3-4.3) | 0.292 |
I am comfortable being a primary care provider for a homeless person with a major mental illness | 3 (2–4) | 3 (2–4) | 4 (3–4) | 3 (2–4) | 0.048 |
I feel comfortable being part of a team when providing care to the homeless | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–4) | 4 (4–5) | 0.825 |
I feel comfortable providing care to different minority and cultural groups | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–5) | 5 (4–5) | 0.044 |
I feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the problems that homeless people have (reverse) | 3 (2–3) | 2 (2–3) | 2 (2–3) | 4 (3–4) | <0.001§ |