Staff conceptions of patients' attitudes toward mental disorder and hospitalization as compared to patients' and staff's actual attitudes

Compared ward personnel's (N = 25) conceptions of their patients' attitudes toward mental disorder and hospital atmosphere to the patients' (N = 50) and the personnel's actual attitudes by use of the CPH Factor Scale. Personnel completed the scale as (1) they themselves viewed the hospital; and (2) as they thought their patients viewed it. Patients' views also were obtained. Personnel viewed the hospital in “positive mental health” terms and considered the patients to be significantly less so. In actuality, patients were less positive than personnel, but significantly less extreme than they were considered to be by the personnel. This approach suggests a means to provide an index discrepancy in attitude between patient and personnel. Identifying these descrepancies can allow for correction and improved understanding, empathy, and patient care.