A comparative study of perception, knowledge and attitude of 1st year MBBS students, MBBS Interns and General population, towards Psychiatry and patients with psychiatric disorders in a teaching tertiary care centre; A cross sectional study.

Dr Bhagat Pranjalee Nawanath; Dr. Tiple Prashant Gokul; Dr. Priyanka Sakaldeo Yadav

Volume : VII, Issue : X, October - 2018

A comparative study of perception, knowledge and attitude of 1st year MBBS students, MBBS Interns and General population, towards Psychiatry and patients with psychiatric disorders in a teaching tertiary care centre; A cross sectional study.

Dr Bhagat Pranjalee Nawanath, Dr. Tiple Prashant Gokul, Dr. Priyanka Sakaldeo Yadav

Abstract :

Background- Psychiatry as a subject, Psychiatrists as professionals, and patients with Psychiatric disorders are subjected to cultural stereotypes and negative attitude by the general population as well as medical community. The perception of First year MBBS students and Interns regarding psychiatry should be modified positively by adequate training for better treatment of these patients.

Aims and objectives-

1) To compare the � Perception�, � Knowledge� and �Attitude� of First year MBBS students (Group A) versus MBBS Interns (Group B) towards psychiatry and patients with Psychiatric disorders. 2) To compare the perception, knowledge and attitude of First year MBBS students versus General population (Group C) towards psychiatry and patients with Psychiatric disorders. 3) To compare the perception, knowledge and attitude of First year MBBS students and Interns (Group A+ Group B) versus General population (Group C) towards Psychiatry and patients with Psychiatric disorders. 4) To study the Socio demographic profiles of First year MBBS students, MBBS Interns and General population.

Material & Method: It was a cross sectional study. One hundred and forty one (141) First year MBBS student , 150 Interns and 193 subject from General population actually participated in the study.. . A semi-structured, pre-validated questionnaire was distributed to assess the Perception, Attitude and Knowledge, toward subject psychiatry and psychiatric disorders.

For statistical analysis Chi square test was applied.

Result:

There was significant difference in perception, attitude and knowledge among Interns, First year MBBS students and General population regarding psychiatry and psychiatric patients. More exposure to psychiatry was associated with positive perception about psychiatry and Psychiatric patients.

Conclusion:

Though the majority of Medical students had positive attitude about psychiatry but still some of them had age old negative attitude,