Attitudes of primary care physicians toward patients with mental illness in Medina, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Personal attitudes and beliefs toward mental illness set the stage for how they interact with mental illness people, provide opportunities, and support a person with mental illness. Attitudes and beliefs about mental illness are shaped by personal knowledge about mental illness, interacting or knowing someone with mental illness, and cultural pattern about mental illness. The general population tends to choose primary care physicians as their entry point to mental care. The present study was aimed at assessing the attitudes of primary care physicians towards patients with mental illness in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out. The study population included all primary health care center (PHC) consultants, specialists, and family medicine residents in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 41 PHC practice sites were involved. The study tool comprised of three main sections using the Social Distance Scale and Dangerousness Scale. Result: The number of individuals who cooperated with the study and responded to the research application were 134 doctors. Majority of them (51.5%) were males, the study show there were no significant differences of the attitudes among the primary care physicians based on gender, country of origin, medical degree, years of experience, and no significant differences were observed in the dangerousness scale by age group but show substantial differences in the Social Distance Scale by age group. Conclusions: In conclusion, the attitudinal level of primary care physicians toward patients with mental illness in Saudi Arabia was acceptable, and authors strongly recommend the need of future educational involvement and interventions.