Exploring attitudes of medical students towards intellectual disabilities

PurposeThis paper aims to determine whether an inclusive teaching session changes student attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities (ID). To investigate the impact of an inclusive teaching session in terms of student perceptions.Design/methodology/approach66 years 4 students at Cardiff University completed the attitudes towards disabled people form B questionnaire (ATDP-B) before and after a communication skills session on ID. Before and after scores were collated and compared using a paired t-test analysis. Common perceptions were identified using anonymised ATDP-B results to conduct five semi-structured interviews and one focus group with nine students. The common perceptions were discussed, alongside how the teaching session tackled them and suggestions for further improvements.FindingsMean ATDP-B score before the teaching session was 115 (SD = 14.5). Mean ATDP-B score after the teaching session was 122 (SD = 17.2). The teaching session improved scores in the ATDP-B by a mean of 6.92 (4.69, 9.16). A paired t-test found this to be a statistically significant difference, t(65) = 6.20, p < 0.001. Qualitative data was thematically analysed and three main themes were identified: Student identity, patient contact and curriculum content.Originality/valueThis is the first study to investigate the origin of the negative attitudes of medical students, and found they stem from a lack of confidence in their abilities and failure to develop a professional identity. The impact of the teaching session stems from its focus on meaningful patient contact and identifying and overcoming communication barriers

MT SCORP: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System: Outdoor Recreation and Resident Health

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) provides state-based data on health and risk behaviors among adults. Several supplemental outdoor recreation related questions were included in the 2011 questionnaire to assist with the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan process and are analyzed in this report

Western Montanan Rancher’s, Hunter’s and Trapper’s Wolf Tolerance in Light of Public Hunting and Trapping

The Public Trust Doctrine placed wildlife in trust, via state control and regulation, for the benefit of the people. Managing agencies that lose sight of the importance of public acceptance of predator policies and management actions may find themselves legislatively or judicially subverted. This study examines how the Montana public wolf hunting and trapping seasons have affected tolerance of gray wolves (Canis lupus) among rural resident ranchers, hunters, and trappers.  Twenty residents from the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, and Ninemile Valleys were qualitatively interviewed over the summer and fall of 2013. Potential participants were initially identified using purposive sampling, with subsequent interviewees located through snowball sampling. Preliminary results show that the hunting and trapping seasons have not yet caused changes in attitudes towards wolves in these groups; however losing the hunting and trapping seasons would have a negative impact. The majority of interviewees stated a desire for some avenue of management and control of the Montana wolf population. One apparent theme was that residents are more likely to accept hunting as a means of lethal control over trapping due to concerns of indiscriminate, inhumane take. Wolf presence conjures up a mixture of both awe and fear in these groups. Ranchers are primarily concerned with the threat to livestock and livelihood, while hunters and trappers are uneasy about predator and big game balance on the landscape.  As intended, the public wolf hunting and trapping seasons allow ranchers, hunters, and trappers to feel some measure of control over the perceived threat of wolf presence

MT SCORP: Facility and Natural Resource Recreation Area Needs: Facility Manager Responses 2012

A survey of local, state, federal, school and tribal mangers were surveyed to understand the quantity and quality of outdoor recreation facilities and area needs. This study was conducted for use in the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan process

MT SCORP: Public Recreational Use Study 2012

The purpose of the Public Recreational Use Survey was to understand the current outdoor recreation facility uses by Montana residents

MT SCORP: Resident Travel for Outdoor Recreation in Montana

The purpose of this analysis was to understand the resident travel patterns of Montanans who participate in outdoor recreation. This was a secondary data analysis from data collected by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research (ITRR) from their most recent resident travel study conducted in 2011-2012 for one year

Recreational Aviation and Wildlife: the Physiological Stress Response in Deer and Associated User Perceptions

Backcountry aviation is a popular form of recreation throughout the northern Rocky Mountains; however, it is unclear whether this seasonal disturbance has adverse effects on wildlife. Using stress physiology techniques provides a mechanistic understanding of the effects of disturbance on free-living populations. The analysis of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) is an increasingly useful tool in conservation biology as it provides a non-invasive measurement of circulating stress hormones (e.g., cortisol) deposited into the feces. We quantified aircraft activity and human presence in concert with collecting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fecal samples from six backcountry airstrips and six non-airstrip recreational sites (n=12) located on public land throughout western Montana and north-central Idaho. By modeling deer FGM levels at these sites, we can evaluate the impacts of backcountry aviation on wildlife stress responses within the greater context of recreation on public lands. We also surveyed recreational pilots who frequent backcountry airstrips in the study area. The main objectives of this human dimensions analysis are to 1) measure attitudes of pilots toward seeing various wildlife species at backcountry airstrips and 2) evaluate scenarios under which pilots might alter their recreational behavior in order to mitigate potential wildlife impacts. This research represents the first attempt to model the endocrine profile of wildlife populations exposed to recreational, backcountry aviation while also providing data on current stakeholder attitudes regarding this topic. In doing so, we can gain an integrated understanding of the factors surrounding recreational aviation and wildlife backcountry airstrips