A Cross Sectional Study On Attitude Of Undergraduate Medical Students Towards Mental Illnesses And Psychiatry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The attitude of Medical students towards Psychiatry, mental health and psychiatric disorders play a major role in their profession as they will be engaged in the care of psychiatric patients throughout their career either directly or indirectly. Many studies have shown negative attitude of Medical students towards psychiatry and mental illnesses.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the attitude towards psychiatry and mental illnesses among undergraduate medical students.

Methodology: The response of 67 medical students from third professional year batch who had completed their 2 week clinical posting of psychiatry in 4^th semester were collected using validated questionnaires, Attitude towards Mental Illness(AMI) and attitude toward Psychiatry(ATP) that assessed their attitude towards mental illness and psychiatry. Data entry and validation were done using  

Results: We have the average percentage of 28.8 percentage of overall response from Medical students and shows an individual average percentage of 42.2% of the answer Agree which is greater when compared to the average percentage of 9.3% and 35.1% of average of disagree and neutral respectively. This shows that there is a mixed attitude of Medical Students towards Psychiatry and Mental illness.

conclusion: There is a mixed view of medical students on psychiatry and mental illneses which needs some more knowledge among medical students to exhibit a positive attitude towards Psychiatry and Mentall illnesses.