Cognitive ability to mental disorders among medical workers in ear-nose-throat departments and its impact on doctor-patient relationship

Abstract

To investigate the cognitive ability and coping strategy to mental disorders among medical workers in ear-nose-throat departments and its impact on doctor-patient relationship. Methods: A total of 78 medical workers (including doctors, nurses, and technicians) in ear-nose-throat departments from 10 general hospitals in Hunan Province were investigated by self-compiled questionnaire on the perspective and coping strategy to mental disorders among medical workers. Results: Mental disorders except depression and schizophrenia were poorly understood in respondents, and many of their coping strategies were inappropriate. Furthermore, subjects tend to avoid too much contact with psychiatric patients for being afraid of the mental disorders. The poorer understanding of mental disorders, the more inappropriate coping strategies in dealing with mental disorders (P<0.001). Moreover, there was a significant difference in inappropriate coping strategies to mental disorders between patients being abused and patients not being abused (P=0.017). Factors such as education background (P=0.031) and the hospital level (P=0.038) also impacted the coping strategies to mental disorders. Conclusion: Among all mental disorders, only depression and schizophrenia are coped with the right way in medical workers of ear-nose-throat departments. In addition, obviously negative attitude and avoidance are found in dealing with mental disorders by medical workers. Importantly, poor cognitive ability to mental disorders is the main reason for hurting doctor-patient relationship in the ear-nose-throat departments.