The Effects of Stigma Toward Mental Illness on Family Physicians
A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. === Many individuals utilize primary care as their main source of mental health care, as in many areas of the US access to specialized psych...
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Language: | en_US |
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The University of Arizona.
2016
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10150/603680 http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/603680 |
Summary: | A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. === Many individuals utilize primary care as their main source of mental health care, as in many
areas of the US access to specialized psychiatric care does not meet the demand. Prior research
has showed that many healthcare practitioners, including those working in generalist fields,
carry stigmatized views about individuals with mental illness. Such stigmatized views can result
in misattribution of symptoms to mental illness and a decline in proper diagnosis and
treatment. Our study aims to examine if stigmatized views about mental illness relate to family
medicine physicians’ comfort levels with treating mental illness, patterns of referral to
psychiatrists, or amount of continuing medical education on psychiatric issues. Our hypothesis
is that family medicine physicians who carry less stigmatized views will be more comfortable
and up to date with psychiatric care practices and less likely to refer mental health issues to
specialized mental health services. Methods: We administered an email survey to family
medicine physicians via the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians monthly electronic
newsletter. The survey contained demographic questions, a short (5‐question) validated stigma
questionnaire (Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire or AMIQ), and questions regarding
self‐stated comfort level with mental illness, amount of recent mental‐health CME, and
likelihood of referral for various mental illnesses. Results: AMIQ stigma ratings and referral
rates for anxiety were significantly related (p=.012), as were AMIQ stigma ratings and amount
of mental health CME (p=.001). Other trends were discovered, but were not significant.
Impact: These results further demonstrate the need for increased emphasis on psychosocial
and psychiatric issues, particularly stigma reduction, in family medicine residency training and
CME. If family medicine physicians with high levels of stigma are less likely to treat mentally ill
patients or seek further education regarding psychiatric issues, it could disrupt their patients’
quality, cost, and continuity of care. |
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