Journal of Investigative Medicine, 2026/08, 74(6):597–606. doi: 10.1177/10815589251406146, type of study: cross sectional study

Free full text   (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10815589251406146)

Keywords:

attitudes [60]
cross sectional study [894]
faculty [42]
homelessness [5]
medical students [693]
osteopathic medicine [2108]
USA [1751]

Abstract:

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) face significant barriers to primary care, compounded by stigma from healthcare professionals. Health professions education offers a critical window of time to shape attitudes, yet research suggests these attitudes can worsen during training. A cross-sectional survey at a multi-professional graduate institution assessed attitudes toward PEH among students and educators across seven health professions colleges. Attitudes varied significantly by profession, with osteopathic medicine and graduate nursing reporting more favorable views than pharmacy, veterinary medicine, dental medicine, physician assistant studies, and physical therapy. More positive attitudes were associated with greater physical comfort, more frequent prior experiences with PEH, and higher interest in learning about homelessness. Respondents who expressed interest in receiving more information afterwards also scored significantly higher on attitude measures. Findings suggest that targeted, profession-specific educational interventions that emphasize meaningful exposure to PEH may improve attitudes. Integrating experiential learning alongside didactic content could foster more holistic, equitable care across disciplines.