Risk factors of the stigma towards psychiatric patients among primary healthcare workers in China: a county study

Yang Wang,Weijun Zhang,Zhiyong Qu,Donghua Tian,Xiaohua Wang,Xiaoyun Liang

doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1215-4

Yang Wang, Weijun Zhang + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1215-4

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Abstract

BackgroundAttitude towards psychiatric patients among healthcare workers has an impact on quality of medical care and rehabilitation of patients. In China, primary healthcare workers play an important role in mental health care, but little is known about the attitude of them towards psychiatric patients. This study aims to examine the risk factors associated with stigma among primary healthcare workers in West China.MethodsThis cross-sectional study randomly recruited 395 primary healthcare workers in Mianzhu County, China. Data were collected via self-reported questionnaires. Descriptive analyses, bivariate analyses, and hierarchical linear regressions were performed by SPSS 17.0 to test the factors that accounted for the variation of stigma towards psychiatric patients.ResultsSeveral risk factors were confirmed, including the satisfaction of income, work experience in psychiatric/ psychological departments, rehabilitation of patients, contact quality, and the attitude of mass media. However, demographic factors, the rest of work-related factors, and contact frequency might not be related with primary healthcare workers’ attitude towards psychiatric patients.ConclusionsThe findings suggested that the quality of contact between primary healthcare workers and psychiatric patients be enhanced in order to decrease the stigma of healthcare staff. On-the-job training and institutional medical education needs a further exploration and development.

Highlights

Attitude towards psychiatric patients among healthcare workers has an impact on quality of medical care and rehabilitation of patients
Female healthcare workers showed a higher level of stigma than male participants (p < 0.01)
This study found that stigma level was associated with contact quality and the attitude held by mass media

Summary

Introduction

Attitude towards psychiatric patients among healthcare workers has an impact on quality of medical care and rehabilitation of patients. In China, primary healthcare workers play an important role in mental health care, but little is known about the attitude of them towards psychiatric patients. Psychiatric illness has a negative impact on patients’ quality of life, and it lays a heavy burden on patients’ family [1,2,3,4]. Healthcare workers’ attitude had a direct impact on patients’ behavior of seeking medical care, the quality of medical care, and patients’ rehabilitation. It may influence the public’s attitude towards psychiatric patients as well [5, 6]

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