The Assessment of Attitudes of Medical Doctors towards Psychiatric Patients—A Cross-Sectional Online Survey in Poland

Mateusz Babicki, Kamila Kotowicz and Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas
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Mateusz Babicki: Department of Family Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-141 Wroclaw, Poland
Kamila Kotowicz: Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas: Department of Family Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-141 Wroclaw, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: (1) Introduction: Stigmatization is a multi-level process leading to depreciation of particular social groups. It is particularly visible among people suffering from mental illnesses. Patient stigmatization is a serious problem in psychiatric care; thus, a reliable assessment of its level is important in the context of effective medical interventions. The aim of this paper is to assess the level of stigmatization of psychiatric patients among doctors. (2) Methods: An online, quantitative, CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) study was conducted in the form of an anonymous, voluntary survey addressed to doctors working in Poland. The questionnaire questions included a socio-geographic assessment and questions assessing the level of stigmatization. A standardized psychometric tool, the MICA-4 Scale for doctors, was also used. The results obtained were compared with the evaluation of the existing reports on stigmatization among Polish society. (3) Results: 501 doctors of various specialties and at various stages of career participated in the study. Most of the respondents were women (75%). The average score of MICA-4 obtained by the respondents was 40.26 (minimum 17; maximum 67; SD 8.93). The women’s score was lower than the men’s ( p = 0.034). (4) Conclusions: Stigmatization of psychiatric patients is a common phenomenon among doctors. The type of performed work and career stage has an impact on the perception of psychiatric patients. Specialists scored highest in the MICA-4 Scale, similarly to physicians of surgical fields. Due to the prevalence of the phenomenon of stigmatization, especially among people who are meant to provide patients with help, there is an urgent need to implement anti-stigma programs.

Keywords: stigmatization; psychiatric illnesses; social discrimination; mental health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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