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Positive attitudes towards psychiatry among Chinese medical students

Author

Listed:
  • Joshua A Williams
  • Ni Liu
  • Khalid Afzal
  • Brian Cooper
  • Renslow Sherer
  • Ivy Morgan
  • Hongmei Dong

Abstract

Background and aims: Increasingly positive attitudes have been reported among young people in China towards mental illness, but little is known about Chinese medical students’ attitudes towards psychiatry, psychiatric services and patients. Methods: We administered a bilingual survey to Wuhan University medical students in the final years of their clinical training. Primary outcomes were composite scores on a 21-item attitudes toward psychiatry (ATP) survey and the number of correct responses to diagnostic questions following a series of three clinical case vignettes. Results: Mean composite score on the ATP items was 78/105 (SD = 9.6), representing overall positive attitudes among the students. Female gender and having learned about more psychiatric disorders were positively associated with a higher mean ATP score and remained so after adjustment for relevant covariates. Conclusions: Chinese medical students reported positive attitudes towards psychiatry, openness with regard to psychiatric services, and respect for psychiatric patients. Learning about a broad spectrum of psychiatric diagnoses and greater clinical contact with patients may improve overall attitudes of Chinese medical students towards psychiatry and their ability to make accurate diagnoses.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua A Williams & Ni Liu & Khalid Afzal & Brian Cooper & Renslow Sherer & Ivy Morgan & Hongmei Dong, 2014. "Positive attitudes towards psychiatry among Chinese medical students," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 60(1), pages 21-29, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:60:y:2014:i:1:p:21-29
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764012467259
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kee-Lee Chou & Ki-Yan Mak & Po-Kin Chung & David Chan & Kimmy Ho, 1996. "Attitudes Towards Mental Patients in Hong Kong," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 42(3), pages 213-219, September.
    2. Matthias C. Angermeyer & Herbert Matschinger & Anita Holzinger, 1998. "Gender and Attitudes Towards People With Schizophrenia. Results of a Representative Survey in the Federal Republic of Germany," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 44(2), pages 107-116, June.
    3. David Cyranoski, 2010. "China tackles surge in mental illness," Nature, Nature, vol. 468(7321), pages 145-145, November.
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