scholarly journals Attitude & belief towards mental illness and psychiatry as a faculty among medical students at International Medical University, Malaysia

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S125-S125
Author(s):  
Debakanta Behera ◽  
Ji Yen Ku
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
International Medical ◽  
Early Exposure ◽  
Medical University

AimsThird year Medical students from the International Medical University, Malaysia were assessed regarding their commonly held attitudes and beliefs for the mental illness in general as well as with respect to psychiatry as a faculty through a survey monkey based survey,BackgroundCommonly held perceptions and prejudices often can be overcame by education and early exposure to facts which also holds true with medical students and their attitude as well as expectations to psychiatry. Ever growing awareness regarding the Mental illness has helped but is unable to complete address the stigma and prejudices associated with it. Also Early exposure to psychiatry in medical education can provide a positive experience to medical students including germinating an interest in psychiatry as a career choice among the students.Method42 students of 3rd and 4th year medical school from International Medical University, Malaysia, some without any exposure to psychiatry, were participated in a survey created on a cloud based online survey link and responded to a questionnaire about the attitude and belief towards mental Illness as well as Psychiatry as a career choice. The results were analysed and data interpreted.ResultMost students (85%) though agreed that psychiatry is a rapidly expanding frontier of medicine sadly only 20% stated that it would be one of the top three career choice. Just under the 50% of the students stated that the psychiatric patients are more likely to harm others. About 95% felt that psychiatric consultations of patients with medical and surgical health problems would be helpful and 90% students shared that they would not feel embarrassed about someone from their family if diagnosed with mental illness.ConclusionPsychiatric exposure in medical education has been recognised as inadequate in general and often exposing medical students to psychiatry early helps improving the stigma and prejudices associated with mental illness. It will also give them sufficient exposure to assess the illness holistically keeping mental health in mind while treating physically ill people and also may inspire them to choose psychiatry as a career choice in a rapidly developing and conservative country such as Malaysia where mental health services are largely inadequate and is the second biggest health issue.

scholarly journals Prevalence of depression among three cohorts of medical students

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Georgieva ◽  
M Vatansever ◽  
A Velkova ◽  
N Hristov ◽  
P Pesheva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mild Depression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Depression Prevalence ◽  
Health Studies ◽  
Medical University

Abstract Background Medical education is often related to serious distress for students, that affects negatively their mental well-being. Depression, poor academic performance, increased alcohol consumption, suicidal thoughts, are some of the detrimental effects of diminished mental health. Studies on depression in medical students reveal a higher prevalence (1.4-73.5%) than in the general population. This study aimed to assess and compare depression prevalence and severity in three cohorts of medical students in Bulgaria and Turkey. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 257 Bulgarian and 288 foreign medical students from Medical University-Sofia, Bulgaria, and with 270 Turkish medical students from Ankara in the winter semester of 2019-2020 academic year. We used the Beck depression inventory (BDI) as valid and reliable instrument to assess depression. The students were categorised according to BDI scores in three groups: with mild depression (10- 18 points); moderate depression (19-29); severe depression (30- 63). Data were analysed with program product Python 3 (v3.6.9) with Pandas v0.25.3 and Scipy v1.4.1. Results Depressive symptoms reported 71.5% of Turkish students, 47.1% of Bulgarian and 48.7% of foreign medical students. The depression frequency among Turkish and Bulgarian medical students was significantly different (chi2 = 35.31; p = 0,001). Mean BDI scores were similar for Bulgarian medical students (11.0) and foreign medical students, studying in Bulgaria (11.6). Turkish medical students scored highest on BDI (15.3). Severe depression was detected in 5.6% of foreign, 4.3% of Bulgarian and 6.3% of Turkish students. Conclusions Depression prevalence was high in all studied medical students cohorts, with Turkish cohort affected most, probably because of cultural and curriculum differences. Key messages Support of student’s mental health should be an integral part of the educational policies of all Medical Universities worldwide. Depression among medical students has to be prevented by comprehensive approach.

Differences in attitudes towards mental illness and psychiatry among medical students, before and after the academic course of psychiatry

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. s218-s219
Author(s):  
M. Pascucci ◽  
M. La Montagna ◽  
E. Stella ◽  
A. De Angelis ◽  
P. Parente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Social Restriction ◽  
Empathy Quotient ◽  
Competing Interest

BackgroundStigma towards mental illness and psychiatry have a major impact on psychiatric patients’ quality of life; in particular, prejudicial beliefs make it more difficult for future doctors to send patients to mental health services, leading to a delay of necessary care.AimsOur aim is to evaluate the stigma towards mental illness and psychiatry, in a sample of Italian medical students. We studied the differences between the first-year students who have not attended the academic course in psychiatry, compared to the senior students who have attended the psychiatric lectures.MethodsWe tested 113 medical students, using the following questionnaires:– Attitudes Towards Psychiatry (ATP 30);– Community Attitudes Towards Mental Ill (CAMI);– Perceived Discrimination Devaluation Scale (PDD), to assess the discrimination towards mental illness perceived in society;– Baron-Cohen's Empathy Quotient (EQ), to measure empathy.ResultsAmong the 113 students, 46 have already attended the academic course of psychiatry and CAMI scores were less stigmatizing as total score (P = 0.014) and in authoritarianism subscale (P = 0.049), social restriction (P = 0.022) and ideology of mental health in the community (P = 0.017). However, there were no statistically significant differences in empathy, perceived discrimination in the society and stigmatization of psychiatry.ConclusionsThe 67 students who have not attended the academic course of psychiatry are more stigmatizing, considering psychiatric patients as inferior people that require coercive attitudes, socially dangerous and that should be treated faraway from the community. Studying psychiatry is therefore useful to reduce, in the future doctors, these prejudices toward mentally ill patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Cinema and Psychiatry’s relationship through time and its role in current medical education

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47
Author(s):  
Adriana Marcela Arenas-Rojas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Current Medical ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Psychiatry Residents ◽  
Educational Tool ◽  
Learning Points

Cinema has been a source of entertainment and recreation for decades, and usually the themes depicted in films have roots in society itself. Films featuring psychiatrists and the mentally ill abound. Most early interpretations tended to be negative contributing to the stigmatization of mental illness, or overly positive furthering misinformation among the general public. Fortunately, nowadays there is an increasing number of films able to provide realistic depictions of psychopathologic disorders, being reasonably accurate and therefore suitable for psychiatric teaching purposes. Over the last three decades, psychiatry trainers have attempted to use films as an educational tool for teaching medical students and psychiatry residents for a number of mental health conditions. Films can be used to engage students’ attention, emphasize learning points in lectures and illustrate symptoms of a disorder. Cinema constitutes not only an important source of entertainment, but also an educational tool and a significant influence on people’s attitude towards mental illness

scholarly journals Impact of the Perceived Mental Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Students' Loneliness Feelings and Future Career Choice: A Preliminary Survey Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuyue Zheng ◽  
Xianhao Lin ◽  
Lin He ◽  
Thomas Freudenreich ◽  
Tao Liu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Mental Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Future Career

The outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic continues to unfold globally, and its negative impact on the public's mental health is starting to reveal. Serving as reserve talents for the healthcare system, medical students are not yet professionally matured enough to face one of the worst global public health crises. This may exert increased mental stress and loneliness feelings, which in turn negatively influence medical students' future career choice. To address the issue, we conducted three online survey studies investigating how the epidemic affects the mental health as well as career attitude of medical students in China during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The results revealed preliminary evidence showing that the perceived stress induced by the COVID-19 epidemic might negatively affect medical students' future career choice, and the feeling of loneliness may play a mediating role. This study invites more attention to medical students' mental health during severe public health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Stress Factors and Depression Levels of International Medical Students in Bulgaria and Turkish Medical Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-64
Author(s):  
Merve Vatansever ◽  
Elia Georgieva ◽  
Angelika Velkova
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Student ◽  
International Students ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
International Medical ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Education Medical ◽  
Medical University

Throughout medical education, medical students are reported to experience high levels of stress and depression. The aim of this study was to compare the stress factors and depression levels of medical students in Bulgaria and Turkey. This cross-sectional comparative study included 546 students (276 international students from abroad studying at the Medical University of Sofia in Bulgaria and 270 Turkish medical students). The questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic questions, a Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ-40 items), and a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Turkish pre-clinical and clinical students had higher levels of stress and depression than the international pre-clinical medical students in Bulgaria. When the medical students were compared, 51.4% of the international medical students in Bulgaria and 28.5% of the Turkish medical students were found to be without depression. Moreover, 26.7% of the Turkish medical students and 12% of the international medical students in Bulgaria had moderate levels of depression. In addition, each domain of the MSSQ had a relationship with depression in both groups of medical students, with the exception of one domain (intrapersonal and interpersonal related stressors), which had no significant relationship with the depression scores of the Turkish clinical students. The findings of our study imply that medical students may need psychological support throughout their education, and this applies especially to Turkish medical students. Knowing the stress factors and depression levels that medical students experience plays an important role in determining the approaches to adopt to them.

Comparative characteristics of educational stress and mental health of senior medicine students at different universities (results of an interregional study)

2020 ◽  
pp. 34-46
Author(s):  
Victoria Ruzhenkova ◽  
Irina Sheremet’eva ◽  
Viktor Ruzhenkov
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
The State ◽  
Panic Attacks ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
State University ◽  
The Future ◽  
Training Stress ◽  
Medical University

Stress negatively affects the mental health of students, causes anxiety and depression, leads to poor academic performance, lowers level of professional training and success in the future. The purpose of the research is to study the state of mental health of medical students to develop recommendations for the prevention of maladaptation. Materials and methods. 252 5-year students aged 20–29 (22 ± 1,1) years, 168 (66,7 %) females and 84 (33,3 %) males (137 students of Belgorod State University and 115 of Altay State Medical University (ASMU)) were examined by medico-sociological and psychometric methods. Results. It was established that every fifth student of the Belgorod State University and every third of the ASMU did not enter the medical university on their own initiative. Less than half (43 %) of Belgorod State University students and 30.4 % of the ASMU ones are convinced that the choice of profession was correct, 35 and 37.4 % are, consequently, completely disappointed with it. Students of Belgorod State University dealt with training stress factors poorer and, as a result, have more pronounced mental symptoms of training stress, difficulties in organizing the daily regimen, irregular nutrition, and fear of the future. Regardless of the region of studying, the number of students not committed to the medical profession, after 5 years of study, is more than 3 times higher among those who enter the university not on their own initiative. Students of the ASMU hit substances, skipped classes, played computer games and took sedative drugs more often to overcome academic stress. The degree of anxiety before the exams in students of Belgorod State University was higher (9 points) than in their peers from the State Medical University (7 points). An extremely high (8–10 points) level of anxiety before exams was characteristic of 75,9 and 44,3 % of students, respectively. The former were more likely to experience clinically significant panic attacks: 27,7 and 6,1 %. Conclusion. Given the high incidence of social phobia (19,1–24,1 %), depression (22,6–32,2 %) and anxiety (21,9– 27,8 %) among medical students, the development and implementation of psycho-correctional programs aimed at the formation of adaptive ways to overcome stress, reduce anxiety and depression is required. This will prevent the development of psychosomatic disorders and addictions.

scholarly journals Time Waits for No One: Longitudinal Study on the Effects of an Anti-Stigma Seminar on the Psychology Student Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5441
Author(s):  
Luca Pingani ◽  
Sara Evans-Lacko ◽  
Sandra Coriani ◽  
Silvia Ferrari ◽  
Maria Filosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Student Population ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
T1 And T2 ◽  
One Year ◽  
Intended Behaviour

The primary aim is to describe the changes in the knowledge of mental health conditions, the attitudes toward the mentally ill, and the intended behaviour towards people with mental illness among the entire student population of the third year of a degree course in Psychology. A total of 570 students attended a seminar on stigma towards mental illness and were invited to complete an online survey which collected data on sociodemographic characteristics and three validated questionnaires evaluating different aspects of stigma at three different time points (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at one year follow up). A total of 253 students (44.39%) completed the questionnaires at t0, t1, and t2. The mean age of the sample was 23.7 (SD = ±5.89), and 86.96% (n = 220) were females. Between t0 and t1, a statistically significant improvement was observed for all three outcomes, while the intended behaviour outcome was no longer significant between t1 and t2 (Z = −0.70; p = 0.48). Females and who participated live at the seminar maintained a significant knowledge of mental illness and a better attitude toward community mental health care. The effects of the seminar focused on reducing stigma tended to diminish over time at one year follow-up, particular in relation to intended behaviour.

scholarly journals Embitterment as a Specific Mental Health Reaction during the Coronavirus Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Beate Muschalla ◽  
Clio Vollborn ◽  
Anke Sondhof
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Perceived Injustice

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Embitterment can occur as a reaction to perceived injustice. During the pandemic and restrictions in daily living due to infection risk management, a range of many smaller or severe injustices have occurred. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of this study is to investigate what characterizes persons with high embitterment, mental illness, embitterment and mental illness, and those without embitterment or mental health problems. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We conducted an online survey including persons from the general population in November 2020 and December 2020, the phase during which a second lockdown took place, with closed shops, restaurants, cultural and activity sites. 3,208 participants (mean age 47 years) gave self-ratings on their present well-being, burdens experienced during the pandemic, embitterment, wisdom, and resilience. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Embitterment occurred among 16% of the sample, which is a high rate in comparison with 4% during pre-pandemic times. Embitterment was weakly correlated with unspecific mental well-being. There were more persons with embitterment than those with embitterment and a mental health problem. Persons with embitterment reported less coronavirus-related anxiety than persons without embitterment. However, embittered persons reported more social and economic burdens and more frequent experiences of losses (job loss and canceling of medical treatments). Embittered persons perceive their own wisdom competencies on a similar level as persons with mental health problems or persons without mental health problems. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Embitterment is a specific potentially alone-standing affective state, which is distinguishable from general mental health and coping capacities (here: wisdom). The economic and social consequences of pandemic management should be carefully recognized and prevented by policy.

scholarly journals Physician Self-disclosure of Lived Experience Improves Mental Health Attitudes Among Medical Students: A Randomized Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 238212051988935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Martin ◽  
Julie Chilton ◽  
Doron Gothelf ◽  
Doron Amsalem
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Role Modeling ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Health Seeking Behaviors

Introduction: Depression and suicidal ideation are common among medical students, a group at higher risk for suicide completion than their age-normed peers. Medical students have health-seeking behaviors that are not commensurate with their mental health needs, a discrepancy likely related to stigma and to limited role-modeling provided by physicians. Methods: We surveyed second-year medical students using the Attitudes to Psychiatry (ATP-30) and Attitudes to Mental Illness (AMI) instruments. In addition, we asked questions about role-modeling and help-seeking attitudes at baseline. We then conducted a randomized trial of an intervention consisting of 2 components: (a) a panel of 2 physicians with personal histories of mental illness speaking about their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery to the students, immediately followed by (b) small-group facilitated discussions. We repeated the ATP-30 and AMI after the active/early group was exposed to the panel, but before the control/late group was similarly exposed. Results: Forty-three medical students participated (53% women). The majority of students (91%) agreed that knowing physicians further along in their careers who struggled with mental health issues, got treatment, and were now doing well would make them more likely to access care if they needed it. Students in the active group (n = 22) had more favorable attitudes on ATP-30 ( P = .01) and AMI ( P = .02) scores, as compared with the control group (n = 21). Conclusion: Medical students can benefit from the availability of, and exposure to physicians with self-disclosed histories of having overcome mental illnesses. Such exposures can favorably improve stigmatized views about psychiatry, or of patients or colleagues affected by psychopathology. This intervention has the potential to enhance medical students’ mental health and their health-seeking behaviors.

scholarly journals The usage pattern and willingness of undergraduate medical students for including social media platforms as a learning tool in medical education- an online survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
Momin Kashif ◽  
Mirza Nisar Baig
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Medical Education ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Active Participation ◽  
First Year ◽  
Usage Pattern ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Learning Tool ◽  
Social Media Platforms

Background: The rapid growth and availability of smartphones and social media platforms (SMP) have changed the medical students' approach to learn and manage the information about their academic, personal and professional lives. Methods: An online survey was done in undergraduate medical students of PIMS, Karimnagar to collect information about usage pattern and perception of SMP, and willingness to participate for using SMP as a learning tool in medical education. Results: Total 433 (Females – 275) out of 600 students participated in the survey from the first year (125), secondyear (151) and third-year (157) MBBS students. Everyone is using some type of SMP. They find SMP nearly equal to lecture materials and subject notes as a useful learning tool and there was significantly increasing trend of perception of SMP being a useful learning tool from the first-year (79%), second-year (83%) to third-year (92%), (p=0.01). Almost 93% want to see SMP used at institute level in medical education. Female students (52.4%) are significantly more willing for active participation than male students (43%), p=0.04. First-year students (56%) are more ready for active participation followed by third (48.4%) and second (43.7%) year students, p=0.08. Conclusion: Most students are willing to include SMP in medical education as a learning tool and ready to participate in different activities if they get the required training. As all students have smartphones and efficiently utilizing different services on their devices, SMP can become an effective learning tool in medical education.

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