Study on the attitude of “Tomorrow’s Doctors” towards mental illness: A cross-sectional study

Received: November 13, 2014
Accepted: December 17, 2014
Ref: Singh HN, Singh TH, Singh YR. Study on the attitude of “Tomorrow’s Doctors” towards mental illness: A cross-sectional study. Internet J Med Update. 2015 Jul;10(2):20-24. doi: 10.4314/ijmu.v10i2.4
CrossRef Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ijmu.v10i2.4

H Nirendra Kr Singh*, T Hemchand Singh**, Y Rameshwor Singh***

*Department of Community Medicine, **Department of Psychiatry, ***Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, India

(Corresponding Author: Dr. H Nirendra Kr Singh, Thangmeiband Lairenhanjaba Leikai near Fishery Gate, Lamphel, Imphal, Manipur, India; Phone: +919612907760; Email: hnirendra10@gmail.com)

ABSTRACT

Different studies show different attitudes towards mental illness among medical students. This study was initiated to explore the attitude towards mental illness among medical students in a medical college of Manipur. A cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire-based study was conducted among medical students in Manipur. Two self rating scales – Social Distance Scale and Dangerousness scale were used to assess attitude towards mental illness. Descriptive statistics and independent sample t-test were applied using SPSS 22 for analysis. The students didn’t keep social distance against the mentally ill, and exposure to psychiatry did not have any effect. However regarding dangerousness scale they had a negative attitude towards mental illness and as overall exposure to psychiatry did not have any effect. Medical students did not keep social distance against the mentally ill, however these students have tendency to feel that mentally ill persons are dangerous.

KEY WORDS: Attitudes; Mental illness; Likert scale; Psychiatry

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