Table 1.
Statement | Test n = 76 | Retest n = 34 | ||
M | SD | M | SD | |
1. Homeless people are victims of circumstance. | 3.26 | .839 | 3.24 | .819 |
2. Most homeless people are mentally ill. | 2.90 | .875 | 3.24 | .955 |
3. Homeless people have the right to basic health care. | 4.60 | .620 | 4.68 | .475 |
4. Homelessness is a major problem in our society. | 4.36 | .698 | 4.50 | .707 |
5. Homeless people choose to be homeless. | 3.71 | .777 | 3.91 | .712 |
6. Homeless people are lazy. | 3.82 | .738 | 3.94 | .694 |
7. Health care dollars should be directed toward serving the poor and homeless. | 3.83 | .888 | 4.03 | .717 |
8. Doctors should address the physical and social problems of the homeless. | 4.17 | .839 | 4.47 | .563 |
9. Doctors have a duty to care for the homeless. | 3.94 | .977 | 4.18 | .834 |
10. Caring for the homeless is pointless since they do not follow-up. | 4.14 | .612 | 4.24 | .654 |
11. Providing medical care for the homeless is futile. | 4.04 | .740 | 4.21 | .592 |
12. I am comfortable being a primary care provider for a homeless person with a major mental illness. | 3.03 | 1.14 | 3.44 | 1.05 |
13. I feel comfortable being part of a team when providing care to the homeless. | 4.32 | .535 | 4.15 | .643 |
14. I feel comfortable providing care to different minority and cultural groups. | 4.42 | .710 | 4.18 | .673 |
15. I feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the problems that homeless people have. | 2.97 | .839 | 3.09 | .996 |
16. I understand that my patients' priorities may be more important than following my medical recommendations. | 3.97 | .769 | 4.24 | .741 |
17. I entered medicine because I want to help those in need. | 4.42 | .687 | 4.62 | .551 |
18. I am interested in working with the underserved. | 3.96 | .941 | 3.88 | .946 |
19. I enjoy addressing psychosocial issues with patients. | 3.69 | .973 | 3.74 | 1.08 |
20. I resent the amount of time it takes to see homeless patients. | 3.79 | .604 | 3.94 | .547 |
21. I enjoy learning about the lives of my homeless patients. | 3.58 | .921 | 3.82 | .834 |
22. I believe social justice is an important part of health care. | 3.75 | 1.06 | 3.74 | 1.14 |
23. I believe caring for the homeless is not financially viable for my career. | 3.24 | .831 | 3.26 | .864 |
24. I am too pressed for time to investigate psychosocial issues routinely. | 3.37 | .941 | 3.56 | .894 |
25. I feel overwhelmed by the number of problems that homeless people have. | 2.79 | .844 | 2.88 | .844 |
26. My knowledge regarding the problem of homelessness is adequate. | 2.58 | .931 | 2.65 | .884 |
27. I can provide care for the homeless effectively. | 2.97 | .878 | 3.00 | .921 |
28. Homeless people come from all walks of life. | 4.42 | .622 | 4.65 | .485 |
29. Most homeless people tend to be drug addicts or alcoholics. | 3.10 | .735 | 3.38 | .697 |
30. I think mentally ill homeless people refuse to get treatment. | 3.67 | .692 | 3.82 | .797 |
31. Homeless people are dangerous, aggressive, and physically threatening. | 3.97 | .556 | 3.97 | .627 |
32. There are only a few children among the homeless population. | 4.31 | .493 | 4.32 | .684 |
33. All people have a right to basic health care. | 4.50 | .805 | 4.59 | .657 |
34. I feel it is important to provide care to all socio-economic groups. | 4.54 | .670 | 4.62 | .604 |
35. Most poor people have adequate access to health care through the public system. | 2.15 | 1.02 | 2.03 | .937 |
Totals | 114 | 6.93 | 116 | 7.75 |
* Statements 24–35 were excluded from HPATHI after analysis.