| Database ID |
148 |
| Title |
Attitudes towards illicit drug users: development of a psychological model of attitude formation and change |
| Description |
A significant barrier to workforce development in the alcohol and other drugs (AOD) field is the attitudes of frontline workers themselves. Low role confidence (ie "I don't have the skills/knowledge/ability to respond to AOD issues") and perceptions of low role legitimacy (ie "It is not my professional responsibility to respond to AOD issues") have been identified as key attitudinal barriers to effective responses to AOD issues.
Very little is known about the antecedents of these attitudes. In addition, despite the strong link between illicit drug use and various types of stigma and stereotypes, little attention is paid to variables such as deservingness, responsibility and blame.
This project will address a number of key questions:
1. what is the relative importance of role legitimacy and confidence compared to judgments of responsibility and deservingness;
2. how do these variables interact with or influence each other in determining willingness of professionals to respond to AOD issues;
3. what are the key antecedents of role legitimacy and confidence perceptions
A theoretical model will be developed of the main types of attitudes that are likely to influence the willingness of professionals to respond to AOD issues. The goal of this model is to identify (a) the attitudes that exert the strongest influence on willingness to respond, and (b) the major antecedents of these attitudes. Based on this model an attitude change intervention will be developed and tested.
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| Status |
Archived |
| Researchers |
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| Keywords |
alcohol use; drug use; attitudes; workforce development; professional training |
| Institution |
National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction |
| Start Date |
05-2002 |
| End Date |
07-2003 |
| Contact |
|
| Note |
Anticipated milestones:
1. completion of study testing the theoretical model (January 2002)
2. pilot test of attitude change intervention (May 2003)
Anticipated products:
1. peer-reviewed journal articles
2. conference presentations
3. attitude change intervention which can be utilised by training providers and other professionals |
| Indexed |
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