INFLUENCE OF PHYSICIANS RELIGIOUS VALUES ON INSERVICE TRAINING DECISIONS

Survey responses of board-certified physicians were compared as a func tion of their self-identification with Liberal Protestant (LP), Conser vative Protestant (CP), Liberal Catholic (LC), Liberal Jewish (LJ), or Agnostic (Ag) values. Respondents rated approval/interest to vignette s describing an inservice which reflected either Evangelical Christian , Liberal Protestant, Humanist (Hu), or Hindu values. Other items aske d respondents to provide demographic and religious-value related infor mation. CPs were generally more approving of all vignettes than LPs, L Cs, LJs, and Ags. Hu vignettes were more approved than the other 3 vig nettes. Physicians generally were more approving of vignettes related to their own values. Ags were least similar to parental values relativ e to the other 4 groups and less dedicated to their beliefs. CPs may b e most likely to be accepting of the professional work of others yet l east likely to have their theistically identified professional activit ies approved. Methodological issues, the Slippery Slope hypothesis, th e possible importance of belief in an absolute authority, and professi onal implications were reviewed.