The impact of a curriculum change on student attitude and ultimate professional behavior

The longitudinal effects of curriculum changes on student attitude and the relationship between attitudes as students and behavior as a professionals in practice are explored in this paper. A curriculum change (treatment of handicapped patients) was planned, introduced, and its effects on student attitude and professional behavior monitored. Findings indicate that: (1) exposure to handicapping conditions significantly lowered student humanitarian attitudes about the treatment of handicapped patients, (2) involvement with handicapped, regardless of the type of involvement (i.e. clinical or supervising oral hygiene care), appears to adversely affect humanitarian attitudes of students regarding handicapped patients. (3) student estimation of their future behavior is not a reliable indication of their future behavior, and (4) changes in curriculum should not be evaluated from student attitudes alone.