Telangana Journal of Psychiatry

Attitudes towards psychiatry as a prospective career among medical interns

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Article Type : Original Article

Author Details: Ivan Netto, Manjeet Santre, Smita Panse

Volume : 4

Issue : 1

Online ISSN : 2455-8559

Print ISSN :

Article First Page : 34

Article End Page : 40

Abstract

Introduction: In India there is a great shortage of psychiatrists unable to respond to the demands of providing good quality mental health care. More women worldwide are taking up psychiatry as a career. Medical interns are the future doctors on the threshold of making a choice regarding their post-graduation which will influence the future quality of mental health care.
Materials and Methods: The attitudes to psychiatry of 148 medical interns (93 – male and 55 – female) were studied using the 29 item Balon’s questionnaire.
Results: The overall mean attitudes scores to psychiatry was 88.40 for males and 85.25 for females (P>0.001). The mean attitude scores in (Area 6 -Specific medical college factors) was 19 for males and 17.56 for female (p<0>
Conclusions: There were overall positive attitudes scores to psychiatry in both male and female medical interns with higher scores in males as compared to females. There were positive attitude scores in both male and female interns to the teaching of psychiatry at the medical college. Interns have negative attitude to psychiatric patients which suggest stigmatization. Interns need to be encouraged to take up psychiatry as a life- long career.

Keywords: Attitudes, Medical interns, Career, Psychiatry

Doi No:-10.18231