Dataset Information

Multinational comparative cross-sectional survey of views of medical students about acceptable terminology and subgroups in schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

The aim of this study was to inform thinking around the terminology for 'schizophrenia' in different countries.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate: (1) whether medical students view alternative terminology (psychosis subgroups), derived from vulnerability-stress models of schizophrenia, as acceptable and less stigmatising than the term schizophrenia; (2) if there are differences in attitudes to the different terminology across countries with different cultures and (3) whether clinical training has an impact in reducing stigma.

Design

This is a cross-sectional survey that examined the attitudes of medical students towards schizophrenia and the alternative subgroups.

Setting

The study was conducted across eight sites: (1) University of Southampton, UK; (2) All India Institute of Medical Science, India; (3) Rowan University, USA; (4) Peshawar Medical College, Pakistan; (5) Capital Medical University, China; (6) College of Medicine and Medical sciences, Bahrain; (7) Queens University, Kingston, Canada and (8) University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Method

This study extended an initial pilot conducted by the Royal College of Psychiatrists on the term schizophrenia and psychosis subgroups to assess whether the subgroup terminology might have an effect on the attitudes of a convenience sample of medical students from eight different countries and potentially play a role in reducing stigmatisation.

Results

1873 medical students completed a questionnaire recording their attitudes to schizophrenia and the psychosis subgroups. A reduction in negative perceptions were found for the psychosis subgroups, especially for the stress sensitivity psychosis and anxiety psychosis subgroups. Negative perceptions were found for drug-related psychosis. Participants who had undergone clinical training had overall positive attitudes. Differences across different countries were found.

Conclusion

The attitudes towards psychosis subgroups used in this study have shown mixed results and variation across countries. Further research is warranted to investigate acceptability of terminology. Methods of reducing stigma are discussed in line with the findings.

Ethics

The study received ethical approval from ERGO (Ethics and Research Governance Online; ID: 15972) and subsequently from the ethics committee at each site.

SUBMITTER: Rathod S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6009566 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Multinational comparative cross-sectional survey of views of medical students about acceptable terminology and subgroups in schizophrenia.

Rathod Shanaya S Irfan Muhammad M Bhargava Rachna R Pinninti Narsimha N Scott Joseph J Mohammad Algahtani Haifa H Guo Zhihua Z Gupta Rishab R Nadkarni Pallavi P Naeem Farooq F Howells Fleur F Sorsdahi Katherine K Thorne Kerensa K Osman-Hicks Victoria V Pallikadavath Sasee S Phiri Peter P Carr Hannah H Graves Lizi L Kingdon David D

BMJ open 20180607 6

<h4>Aim</h4>The aim of this study was to inform thinking around the terminology for 'schizophrenia' in different countries.<h4>Objectives</h4>The objective of this study was to investigate: (1) whether medical students view alternative terminology (psychosis subgroups), derived from vulnerability-stress models of schizophrenia, as acceptable and less stigmatising than the term schizophrenia; (2) if there are differences in attitudes to the different terminology across countries with different cu ...[more]

PMID: 29880569

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Project description:BackgroundMalawi has one of the lowest physician densities in the world, at 1.1 doctors per 100,000 population. Undergraduate training of doctors at the national medical school has increased considerably in recent years with donor support. However, qualified doctors continue to leave the public sector in order to work or train abroad. We explored the postgraduate plans of current medical students, and the extent to which this is influenced by their background.MethodsA self-administered questionnaire was developed after discussion with students and senior staff. This included questions on background characteristics, education before medical school, and future career plans. This was distributed to all medical and premedical students on campus over 1 week and collected by an independent researcher. One reminder visit was made to each class. Chi-squared tests were performed to investigate the relationship of student characteristics with future career plans.ResultsOne hundred and forty-nine students completed the questionnaire out of a student body of 312, a response rate of 48%. When questioned on their plans for after graduation, 49.0% of students plan to stay in Malawi. However, 38.9% plan to leave Malawi immediately. Medical students who completed a 'premedical' foundation year at the medical school were significantly more likely to have immediate plans to stay in Malawi compared to those who completed A-levels, an advanced school-leaving qualification (P = 0.037). Current premedical students were slightly more likely to have immediate plans to work or train in Malawi compared to medical students (P = 0.049). However, a trend test across all the years was not significant. When asked about future plans, nearly half of students intend to work or train outside Malawi.ConclusionsThe majority of respondents plan to leave Malawi in the future. The effectiveness of the substantial upscaling of medical education in Malawi may be diminished unless more medical students plan to work in Malawi after graduation.

Dataset Information

Multinational comparative cross-sectional survey of views of medical students about acceptable terminology and subgroups in schizophrenia.

Aim

Objectives

Design

Setting

Method

Results

Conclusion

Ethics

Publications

Multinational comparative cross-sectional survey of views of medical students about acceptable terminology and subgroups in schizophrenia.

Similar Datasets

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