Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (772 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
An enduring, learned predisposition to behave in a consistent way toward a given class of objects, or a persistent mental and/or neural state of readiness to react to a certain class of objects, not as they are but as they are conceived to be.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Attitudes; Opinions; Opinion; Sentiment; Sentiments.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms
- Narrower topics
- Attitude of Health Personnel; Attitude to Computers; Attitude to Death; Attitude to Health; Catastrophization; Optimism; Pessimism; Respect; Stereotyping; Wit and Humor as Topic
- See also
- Public Opinion; Set, Psychology; Intention
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 708,553 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Attitude” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 136,756 of them (19.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 249,780 records.
Reviews account for 54,289 records (7.7%) and meta-analyses for 4,368. Randomized controlled trials number 41,729 (5.9%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 146,264 |
| 2000-2009 | 175,753 |
| 2010-2019 | 249,780 |
| 2020 onward | 136,756 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 54,289 | 7.7% |
| Meta-analyses | 4,368 | 0.6% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 41,729 | 5.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Attitude"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in psychiatry and psychology
Research on mental health and behaviour relies on questionnaires, interviews and rating scales rather than physical measurements, so how a condition was defined and measured shapes every result. Many studies are observational or small, placebo responses can be large, and findings in one group or culture may not carry over to another. Nothing on this page is advice about diagnosis or treatment; anyone worried about their mental health should talk to a qualified clinician. Check how outcomes were measured, who took part and how long they were followed.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population-Level Awareness of Water Safety Messages: An Analysis of a Representative Sample From New South Wales, Australia | 2027 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42893972 · DOI · PMC13677796 |
| Spatial and multilevel determinants of delayed healthcare access following occupational accidents in Brazil | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42912752 · DOI · PMC13693904 |
| Patient experience in National digital health platforms: Evidence from patient-generated feedback in Saudi Arabia | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42911911 · DOI · PMC13690221 |
Population-Level Awareness of Water Safety Messages: An Analysis of a Representative Sample From New South Wales, Australia [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Issue addressedThe World Health Organisation recommends strengthening public awareness of drowning through strategic communications as a key drowning prevention strategy.
- Closing excerpt
- Funding, time, and specific calls to action will support moving from awareness to behaviour change.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (223 words)
Issue addressedThe World Health Organisation recommends strengthening public awareness of drowning through strategic communications as a key drowning prevention strategy. This study aimed, for the first time, to assess population-level awareness of water safety messages in New South Wales, Australia.MethodsVia an age-sex representative sample survey, community beliefs around the number of water safety messages and awareness of messages (defined as having seen or heard) were examined. Message awareness variance between different demographics (gender, age group, country of birth, rurality and socio-economic classification of residence) and water use frequency groups was assessed using chi square tests.ResultsThe sample comprised 1495 people (52% female; 33% 45-64 years; 84% Australian-born and 78% metropolitan residents). Seventy-six percent did not believe the number of water safety messages promoted to the community was confusing. 'Swim between the flags' had the highest awareness among the sample (68%), followed by 'No flags, no swim' (53%). Despite no longer being actively promoted, 36% were aware of the message 'To escape a rip, swim parallel to the beach'. 'Respect the River' had significantly higher awareness among males, Australian-born and regional residents, at-risk cohorts for river drowning.ConclusionsMessage longevity supports increased awareness, though awareness varies by message and demographic groups. Funding support to increase awareness should reflect drowning burden. So what? Funding, time, and specific calls to action will support moving from awareness to behaviour change.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42893972 · DOI · PMC13677796
Spatial and multilevel determinants of delayed healthcare access following occupational accidents in Brazil [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundDelayed healthcare-seeking following occupational accidents increases the risk of complications, disability, and mortality.
- Closing excerpt
- Findings highlight urgent need for geographically targeted occupational health interventions.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (316 words)
BackgroundDelayed healthcare-seeking following occupational accidents increases the risk of complications, disability, and mortality. Although occupational injuries remain a major public health concern in Brazil, national evidence on the spatial distribution and multilevel determinants of Delayed healthcare-seeking is limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, geographic distribution, and individual and municipal-level determinants of Delayed healthcare-seeking following occupational accidents in Brazil.MethodsA nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted using 2024 data from the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System. A total of 477,276 Occupational accident cases were included in the analysis. Delayed healthcare-seeking was defined as accessing healthcare services more than 24 hours after injury occurrence. A two-level mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to identify individual and municipal-level determinants, while spatial clustering techniques were applied to assess spatial clustering patterns.ResultsThe prevalence of Delayed healthcare-seeking was 12.2%. Significant spatial clustering was observed across Brazilian municipalities, with hotspots concentrated in the North and Midwest regions. Compared with White individuals, Black (AOR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.06-1.15) and Brown individuals (AOR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.10-1.16) had higher odds of Delayed healthcare-seeking. Agricultural workers were more likely to delay care (AOR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.14-1.25). Injuries occurring in the evening showed the strongest association with delay (AOR = 3.62; 95% CI: 3.51-3.75). Higher odds of delay were also observed among individuals with lower limb injuries (AOR = 1.51), trunk/back injuries (AOR = 2.05), and multiple injuries (AOR = 1.90). Living in municipalities with lower health facility density was associated with an increased likelihood of Delayed healthcare-seeking.ConclusionsMore than one in ten workers in Brazil experience Delayed healthcare-seeking following occupational injuries. Delays are associated with both social vulnerability and structural inequalities in healthcare access and exhibit significant geographic clustering. Strengthening healthcare accessibility, extending service availability, and implementing geographically targeted interventions in high-risk municipalities may improve timely care and reduce adverse occupational health outcomes. Findings highlight urgent need for geographically targeted occupational health interventions.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42912752 · DOI · PMC13693904
Patient experience in National digital health platforms: Evidence from patient-generated feedback in Saudi Arabia [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- National digital health platforms are becoming fundamental components of modern healthcare delivery; however, patient experience is commonly assessed using overall ratings or sentiment analysis, providing limited understanding of the specific dimensions that influence digital healthcare quality and service improvement.
- Closing excerpt
- The proposed framework extends approaches based primarily on ratings or sentiment by transforming large-scale patient-generated feedback into actionable evidence for healthcare quality improvement and continuous evaluation of patient-centered digital health services.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (233 words)
National digital health platforms are becoming fundamental components of modern healthcare delivery; however, patient experience is commonly assessed using overall ratings or sentiment analysis, providing limited understanding of the specific dimensions that influence digital healthcare quality and service improvement. This study aimed to develop a multidimensional framework for understanding patient experience in a national digital health platform, examine variation across healthcare services, investigate changes over time, and identify evidence-based improvement priorities. A qualitative analysis was conducted using 97,034 Google Play reviews of Sehhaty, the Saudi national digital health platform, posted between 2019 and 2026. Reviews were analyzed using an inductive coding approach to develop a patient experience framework, followed by comparative analyses across healthcare services and longitudinal analyses across successive stages of platform development. Nine patient experience dimensions were identified. Patient experience differed considerably across healthcare services, indicating that improvement priorities were service-specific rather than uniform across the platform. Longitudinal analyses showed a shift from predominantly technical concerns during early deployment toward challenges involving service accessibility, integration, continuity of care, as the platform matured. These findings enabled the identification of service-specific priorities for improving digital healthcare delivery. Patient experience in national digital health platforms is multidimensional, service-dependent, and evolves alongside platform maturity. The proposed framework extends approaches based primarily on ratings or sentiment by transforming large-scale patient-generated feedback into actionable evidence for healthcare quality improvement and continuous evaluation of patient-centered digital health services.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42911911 · DOI · PMC13690221
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Nurse Burnout and Patient Safety, Satisfaction, and Quality of Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [4]
- Research article The Unmet Treatment Need for Eating Disorders: What Has Changed in More Than 10 Years? An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [5]
- Research article Research Review: Help-seeking intentions, behaviors, and barriers in college students - a systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Effectiveness of Mobile Health Intervention in Medication Adherence: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [7]
- Research article Utilization of maternal healthcare services in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Exercise adherence is associated with improvements in pain intensity and functional limitations in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain: a secondary analysis of a Cochrane review [9]
Full-text reviews on EvidenceLib
Open-access review articles about this topic, reproduced in full with authors, licence and references.
Patients’ and Providers’ Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence and Electronic Health Record Use in Deep Phenotyping and Rare-Disease Screening: An Empty Systematic Review
Sylvia Martin, Åsa Grauman, Joshua Coulter et al. · Healthcare 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Latinx attitudes, barriers, and experiences with genetic counseling and testing: A systematic review
Heather A. Dron, Daiana Bucio, Jennifer L. Young et al. · Journal of Genetic Counseling 2022 · CC BY 4.0
Perceptions and Opinions of Patients About Mental Health Chatbots: Scoping Review
Alaa A Abd-Alrazaq, Mohannad Alajlani, Nashva Ali et al. · Journal of Medical Internet Research 2021 · CC BY 4.0
References
- Peden AE, Lawes JC, Irvine RJ. Population-Level Awareness of Water Safety Messages: An Analysis of a Representative Sample From New South Wales, Australia. . 2027. PMID 42893972 · DOI · PMC13677796
- Fentaw Ahmed A, da Silva EN, Farias JS, Mendonça AVM, de Andrade NF, Debalkie Animut M, et al.. Spatial and multilevel determinants of delayed healthcare access following occupational accidents in Brazil. . 2026. PMID 42912752 · DOI · PMC13693904
- Albesher AS. Patient experience in National digital health platforms: Evidence from patient-generated feedback in Saudi Arabia. . 2026. PMID 42911911 · DOI · PMC13690221
- Li LZ, Yang P, Singer SJ, Pfeffer J, Mathur MB, Shanafelt T. Nurse Burnout and Patient Safety, Satisfaction, and Quality of Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2024. PMID 39499515 · DOI · PMC11539016
- Ali K, Radunz M, McLean SA, O'Shea A, Mavrangelos T, Fassnacht DB, et al.. The Unmet Treatment Need for Eating Disorders: What Has Changed in More Than 10 Years? An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Eat Disord. 2025. PMID 39482805 · DOI
- Zhao R, Amanvermez Y, Pei J, Castro-Ramirez F, Rapsey C, Garcia C, et al.. Research Review: Help-seeking intentions, behaviors, and barriers in college students - a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2025. PMID 40077833 · DOI · PMC12447698
- Kim SK, Park SY, Hwang HR, Moon SH, Park JW. Effectiveness of Mobile Health Intervention in Medication Adherence: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Med Syst. 2025. PMID 39821698 · DOI
- Baten A, Biswas RK, Kendal E, Bhowmik J. Utilization of maternal healthcare services in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev. 2025. PMID 40241227 · DOI · PMC12004674
- Jones MD, Hansford HJ, Bastianon A, Gibbs MT, Gilanyi YL, Foster NE, et al.. Exercise adherence is associated with improvements in pain intensity and functional limitations in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain: a secondary analysis of a Cochrane review. J Physiother. 2025. PMID 40175237 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.