PERCEPTIONS OF POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD PEOPLE WITH SPINAL-CORD INJURY

This study identified differences in perceptions of positive attitudes toward persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). The four groups surveye d included 35 people with SCI, 27 rehabilitation workers from an acute spinal rehabilitation unit, 16 rehabilitation workers from an out-pat ient hospital rehabilitation unit and 37 people from the general popul ation. Participants completed the Modified Issues in Disability Scale- Transitional Version. The people with SCI were considered the judges o f what a positive attitude consisted of and scored higher on the measu re than all other groups. The results showed that the acute spinal reh abilitation workers and the general population group differed signific antly from the people with SCI in their perceptions of positive attitu des, whereas the out-patient hospital rehabilitation workers did not. Age and ethnic identity were significantly related to perceptions of a ttitudes, with younger adults and European New Zealanders being more a ware of positive attitudes than older adults, Maori New Zealanders and Pacific Islanders. Professionally trained rehabilitation workers had a greater awareness than in-service trained workers of what constitute d a positive attitude towards people with SCI. However, gender and amo unt of contact with people with disabilities were not related to perce ptions of positive attitudes.