Title: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study on Perception of Medical, Dental and Nursing Undergraduate Students about Mental Illness
Authors: Narayan R Mutalik, Tejaswi TP, Shankar Moni, Govind S Bhogale
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i12.117
Abstract
Background: Even though there is a famous saying there is no health without mental health, the main obstacle for this is the stigma towards mental illnesses. Most of the undergraduate medical students, dental and nursing students express negative attitudes to psychiatry and mental illness in most of the low to middle income countries.
Objectives and Methodology: Aim was to assess the attitude of medical, dental and nursing students towards psychiatry. A total of 292 undergraduate students were included based on universal sampling method. Questionnaires based study was conducted using ATP-30 scale. Undergraduate students studying in medical, dental and nursing colleges in Bagalkot were asked to anonymously complete an attitude scale, the Attitudes towards psychiatry-30 items (ATP-30). The results were analysed to ascertain their attitudes towards psychiatry.
Result: There was no significant difference in perception of medical, dental or nursing towards psychiatry in overall score on ATP. But, nursing students have shown better attitude towards several areas related to mental health field.
Conclusion: The role of education, awareness and exposure to psychiatry has the potential to improve the future delivery of psychiatric care in Bagalkot and potentially to increase the number of doctors choosing to pursue a career in psychiatry.
Keywords: Attitude, Stigma, Psychiatry, Medical Students.
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