Title:
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A cross-cultural comparative study of nursing, dental and medical students' knowledge, education and attitudes toward domestic violence and abuse in Northern Ireland and Jordan
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Although international surveys of prevalence and the growing body of literature on domestic
violence have highlighted the need for data on cross-cultural attitudes towards violence against
women, there are few studies in Northern Ireland [NIl and Jordan examining health care
professionals' knowledge and attitudes towards domestic violence. The purpose of this study was to
examine the cross-cultural differences in knowledge, attitudes, and current training and educational
experiences towards violence against women, amongst third-year undergraduate nursing, dental, and
. medical students in NI and Jordan, in order to develop recommendations for a culturally-sensitive
and integrated educational programme for both cultures.
A convenience sample of 774 male and female undergraduate students were administered a validated
questionnaire that measured their knowledge, attitudes and current training and education on
violence against women. Results indicated that student health care professionals' attitudes towards
violence against women differed significantly between males and females, and across cultures.
Variations in gender differences across cultures indicated that, for attitudes towards physical and
sexual violence, students in Jordan, and male students in both cultures, were more likely than their
counterparts to hold negative attitudes toward violence against women that are: justifying violence
and abuse under certain circumstances; blaming women for violence against them; and supporting
rape myths. The results also revealed significant gender and cultural differences in definitions of
domestic violence. Participants in Jordan and female students in both cultures had clearer and
broader definitions of domestic. Finally, while there were little differences across cultures in
attitudes towards the role of health care professionals in screening for domestic violence, there were
significant gender differences indicated that male students in both cultures were more likely than female students to perceive barriers to screening for domestic violence. With regards to educational
specialty, nursing students were more likely to hold positive attitudes towards violence against
women. The results are analysed in light of an ecological framework and the patriarchal ideology
that specifically typifies Arab culture, and which predominates in Jordanian society
The research findings suggest several potential directions for change, emphasizing the importance of
establishing a systematic evidence-based multi-disciplinary and inter-agency approa'ch to teaching
and learning for student health care professionals on the topic of domestic violence in their
undergraduate programmes. Learning in this way will enable them to respond sensitively and
effectively to victims of domestic violence across professional boundaries in a meaningful way.
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