Attitude of Medical Students towards the Concept and Practice of Psychiatry - Whether Psychiatry Posting Brings Change - A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

In India, prevalence of mental illnesses is 6.5%.The stigma attached to mental illness is a Universal phenomenon. Stigmatizing attitudes among health professionals can result in compromised patient care. Aim: To study the impact of a clinical posting in Psychiatry on the attitudes of medical students to mental illness and Psychiatry. Methods: Among undergraduate medical students about 479 respondents were included in the study. A validated questionnaire called “ATTITUDE TOWARDS PSYCHIATRY-30 [ATP-30]†with Likert type scale was given to two sets of students, one-exposed to Psychiatry {n=245} and another not exposed {n=234}. According to the scores attitude was compared. Anonymity and confidentiality maintained. Results: t test was applied and found that there is significant difference between exposed and not exposed - in the attitude to patients and treatments (P=0.003). In attitude to Psychiatry and mental illness (P=0.060), attitude to Psychiatrist and institutions (P=0.167), attitude to Psychiatry teaching as a carrier (P=0.478) there is no significant difference. But in the overall attitude there is significant difference between exposed and not exposed. (P=0.034). Conclusion: Clinical posting in Psychiatry in undergraduate has a favorable effect on overall attitude, especially attitude to patients and treatment. Better curriculum and more hours of training in Psychiatry may yield better gain.