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. 2024 Jun 4;16(6):e61648.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.61648. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Evaluating Stigmatization Toward Mental Illnesses Among Resident Physicians

Jamon Hemingway  1 , Justin Kunz  1 , David Draney  1 , David E Martin  2 , Suporn Sukpraprut-Braaten  3   2
Affiliations

Evaluating Stigmatization Toward Mental Illnesses Among Resident Physicians

Jamon Hemingway et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background Individuals with mental illness are stigmatized by peers in societal, workplace, and healthcare settings. The stigmatization individuals experience from healthcare providers is well documented and pervasive, often being a detriment to the quality of healthcare these individuals receive. Objective Recognizing and addressing stigmatization toward individuals with mental illnesses is imperative during residency training in Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs and throughout professional practice. We hope that this cross-sectional study will cultivate mindfulness and improve the healthcare outcomes of stigmatized individuals. Methodology A cross-sectional study using a web-based Attitude to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ) with additional scenarios was utilized to assess stigma among resident physicians in differing specialties in a hospital training system. The research investigators collected anonymous data on demographics, characteristics, specialties, and the AMIQ. In eight vignettes, participants responded to five items using a five-point Likert scale assessing attitudes toward individuals. Results Of the 104 resident physicians enrolled in the hospital training system where the study was conducted, 58 (56%) volunteered to participate. The participating residents markedly exhibited negative attitudes toward the individual in the vignette with multiple inpatient psychiatric admissions. Residents also exhibited more negative attitudes toward individuals with schizophrenia, self-harm by way of overdose, psychedelic users, cannabis users, and alcohol problems compared to diabetic and Christian individuals. Conclusions Residents exhibited negative attitudes toward individuals with mental illness. Additional research would further our understanding of the reasons for physician bias. Moreover, GME programs and medical educators can play a crucial role in mitigating stigma among future physicians, thereby enhancing care for individuals with mental illness.

Keywords: amiq; bias; mental illness; resident physicians; schizophrenia; stigma; stigmatization.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Harding University Institutional Review Board (IRB) issued approval Proposal number: 2021-09 (research exempted). Proposal number: 2021-09 The proposal referenced above has been reviewed and the decision rendered is noted below: This study has been found to fall under the following exemption: Research exempted from IRB Review. In the event that, after this exemption is granted, this research proposal is changed, it may require a review by the full IRB. In such case, a Request for Amendment to Approved Research form must be completed and submitted. The IRB reserves the right to observe, review and evaluate this study and its procedures during the course of the study. Dr. Cody Sipe, Chair Harding University Institutional Review Board. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Total score across all participating residents stratified by vignette.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Comparison of total scores among the residency programs.
Residency programs surveyed include Emergency Medicine (EM), Family Medicine (FM), Internal Medicine (IM), Psychiatry (PM), and Transitional Year (TY).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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