[The attitudes of nurses toward transsexuals].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify the attitude of nurses toward transsexuals.


METHODS
The Q-methodology which provides a method of analyzing the subjectivity of each item was used. Twenty-nine nurses classified the 50 selected Q-statements into a normal distribution using a 9 point scale. The collected data was analyzed using the Quanl PC program.


RESULTS
Four types of attitudes toward transsexuals were identified. The first type (humanitarian acceptance) showed an attitude of respecting transsexuals as human beings and understanding and accepting their desires and difficulties. The second type (superficial understanding) understood the psychological conflicts and suffering of transsexuals but could not accept them as members of families or society. The third type (insufficient understanding) did not feel a sense of rejection toward transsexuals but showed a lack of understanding of their desires and difficulties. The fourth type (rejection) failed to understand the desires and difficulties of transsexuals and showed a sense of rejection toward them, in addition to regarding them as sexually immoral people.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study indicate that different approaches of educational programs based on the four types of attitudes toward transsexuals are recommended.
Lee
Eun-Nam
EN
Department of Nursing, Dong-A University.
Seo
Ji-Min
JM
Ju
Hyeon-Ok
HO
Song
Young-Sun
YS
Lee
Dong-Mei
DM
Lee
Bok-Nam
BN
Shin
Sun-Mi
SM
Ju
Yeon-Hee
YH
Choi
Ok-Hee
OH
Heo
Yeong Hee
YH
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D011779:Q-Sort; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014189:Transsexualism