Comparing attitudes of medical practitioners and allied medical professionals towards mental illness and patients with mental health disorders in Jordan

Abstract EN

Objectives : The study is aimed to compare the attitudes of medical practitioners and allied medical professionals, other than mental health workers, towards mental illness, mental health services and their patients in Jordan and to recommend a strategy to reduce the stigma, which represents an additional burden on patients with mental health problems and their families.

Methods : We collected views of 300 medical practitioners and 300 allied medical professionals, from different hospitals in the Jordanian Royal Medical Services concerning stigma.

Results : One hundred seventy six medical practitioners compared to one hundred fifty one allied medical professionals considered mental illnesses to be a medical problem like diabetes or hypertension with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001).

A fair number of allied medical professionals believed that mental illness is a type of madness (n = 69) or a possession by a demon (n = 60), and that mentally ill patients are dangerous and impulsive (n = 140) compared to 29, 23, and 99 medical practitioners respectively with statistically significant differences (p < 0.0005, 0.00002, 0.002) in that order.

One hundred forty five medical practitioners compared to 115 allied medical professionals thought that the public does not trust the treatment provided by psychiatrists and other mental health workers with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0007).

Allied medical professionals believed the media helped to reduce stigma of mental illness in contrast to the medical professionals which thought that it did not.

The majority felt the need for an increase in public awareness of mental illness and wish to participate in mental health campaigns to support mental health development in Jordan.

Conclusion : Health care professionals at all levels are still carrying negative attitude towards mental health services and their patients in Jordan.