Abstract

Background: Undergraduate medical students are future doctors who would be managing mental illness in community directly or indirectly. This study was done to evaluate variance in attitude of undergraduate medical students towards mental illness in relation to psychiatry posting and increasing clinical exposure.
Methods and Material: Anonymous online survey conducted amongst medical students from 1st year to Interns. Survey included demographic data, question on exposure to psychiatry posting and 21-item beliefs towards mental illness scale.
Z-test for proportions was used to compare percentage prevalence of stigmatized response. Year-wise variance in beliefs was explored using Mean total belief score.
Results: Moderate to severe salience of stigmatized belief was found on 11 out of 21 questions in group 1 students. Percentage prevalence of stigmatized endorsement on the 21 beliefs, between entry and exit level students was significantly different on only three questions. Compared to entry level student and those recently exposed to psychiatry ward posting, 3rdPart II students were showing significantly low mean total beliefs score. Prevalence of stigmatized beliefs was comparatively lower amongst females.
Conclusions: Psychiatry curriculum is associated with insignificant reduction in prevalence of stigmatized beliefs amongst entry and exit level medical students. Ways to address this situation needs to be explored.

Key words: Medical students, attitude, mental illness, psychiatry curriculum