Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
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Exploring Attitude Towards Mental Illness as one of the Barriers to Mental Healthcare Utilization Amongst Non‐Psychiatry Resident Doctors at a Tertiary Level Care Centre in India
Shardul Solanki, Dinesh Valvi and Jagruti Chandpa
Page: 271-279 | Received 22 Nov 2023, Published online: 30 Nov 2023
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Abstract
In population such as resident doctors who lives in a close proximity to tertiary care health centres, Attitudinal barriers to healthcare utilization becomes very important. Identification of such barriers to mental healthcare among resident doctors will help in improving mental health services in medical colleges across India. This study was conducted to evaluate the attitude of Non‐Psychiatry residents and to identify the potential barriers to mental healthcare access among them. One To quantitatively and qualitatively assess and compare attitudes of residents across various Non‐Psychiatry branches 2. Explore the impact of these attitudes over their decision of seeking help for mental issues. Cross sectional (observational), Descriptive survey Qualitative arm: Thematic analysis Site of study. Tertiary Healthcare enter in western India Study duration. March to May 2022 Sample size for quantitative arm 242 Sample size for qualitative arm 15. A mixed study design, employing an initial cross sectional, descriptive survey with a later qualitative interview based study. The web based self‐report version of Beliefs Towards Mental Illness scale (BTMI) questionnaire was used. BTMI is a 21 item self report measure of negative stereotypical views of mental illness. Items are rated on a six higher score reflecting more negative beliefs. For qualitative phase, 15 Non‐Psychiatry resident doctors who were selected purposively engaged in longer interviews to provide data about their attitude towards mental illness. The overall analysis of the total scores obtained from BTMI scale shown predominantly positive attitude towards mental illness in the study population with a mean score 2.14 out of 5. But in comparative analysis we found various branches performing significantly poor on overall scale as well as on various subscales. Non Clinical branches such as Biochemistry, Pathology etc. performed poorly overall and especially in the “Incurability” subscale. Amongst Clinical Non Surgical branches Anaesthesia and Radiology shown significantly poor attitude towards mental illness, whereas Paediatrics and Dermatology performed significantly better. In qualitative analysis themes such as self‐stigma, fear of isolation, lack of convenient access to psychiatric help etc. were identified. Non‐Psychiatry Post‐Graduates at a tertiary care hospital in India have an overall positive attitude towards mental illness. However there are significant differences among various branches.
How to cite this article:
Shardul Solanki, Dinesh Valvi and Jagruti Chandpa. Exploring Attitude Towards Mental Illness as one of the Barriers to Mental Healthcare Utilization Amongst Non‐Psychiatry Resident Doctors at a Tertiary Level Care Centre in India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.59218/makrjms.2023.12.271.279
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.59218/makrjms.2023.12.271.279