Patterns and barriers of mental health service utilization among medical students: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background The prevalence of mental health problems among medical students has been steadily rising. It is greater than the prevalence of mental health problems among other students, negatively impacting students, and their future careers. The study aims to estimate the prevalence of the se...

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Main Authors: Doaa Abdel-Hady, Mohamed Baklola, Mohamed Terra, Abdel-Hady El-Gilany
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2022-12-01
Series:Middle East Current Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-022-00267-0
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author Doaa Abdel-Hady
Mohamed Baklola
Mohamed Terra
Abdel-Hady El-Gilany
author_facet Doaa Abdel-Hady
Mohamed Baklola
Mohamed Terra
Abdel-Hady El-Gilany
author_sort Doaa Abdel-Hady
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The prevalence of mental health problems among medical students has been steadily rising. It is greater than the prevalence of mental health problems among other students, negatively impacting students, and their future careers. The study aims to estimate the prevalence of the self-reported need for mental health care, the pattern of utilization of mental health services, and the different barriers that hinder medical students from seeking professional help. Results This study was conducted among medical students at Mansoura University, using a structured self-reported online questionnaire to collect the need for mental health services, sociodemographic details, the pattern of utilization of mental health services, and the barriers using a Likert scale of 30 items named Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation Version 3. According to this study, 77.77% felt the need for mental health care. The independent predictors for feeling the need for mental health care were female sex and urban residence with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.7 and 1.9, respectively. Regarding mental healthcare needs, most of the barriers were instrumental and attitudinal related. Lack of information about how to access services and solve the problem by themselves was the most common barriers followed by time and financial affords. Conclusions It appears that Mansoura medical students are at higher risk of feeling the need for mental care. Considerable barriers to help-seeking remain prevalent, including both logistical (e.g., time) and informational (e.g., lack of knowledge about the available services).
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spelling doaj.art-21e9304dcd6f4d2884e60f160dd1351e2022-12-22T04:41:43ZengSpringerOpenMiddle East Current Psychiatry2090-54162022-12-012911710.1186/s43045-022-00267-0Patterns and barriers of mental health service utilization among medical students: a cross-sectional studyDoaa Abdel-Hady0Mohamed Baklola1Mohamed Terra2Abdel-Hady El-Gilany3Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura UniversityPublic Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura UniversityAbstract Background The prevalence of mental health problems among medical students has been steadily rising. It is greater than the prevalence of mental health problems among other students, negatively impacting students, and their future careers. The study aims to estimate the prevalence of the self-reported need for mental health care, the pattern of utilization of mental health services, and the different barriers that hinder medical students from seeking professional help. Results This study was conducted among medical students at Mansoura University, using a structured self-reported online questionnaire to collect the need for mental health services, sociodemographic details, the pattern of utilization of mental health services, and the barriers using a Likert scale of 30 items named Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation Version 3. According to this study, 77.77% felt the need for mental health care. The independent predictors for feeling the need for mental health care were female sex and urban residence with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.7 and 1.9, respectively. Regarding mental healthcare needs, most of the barriers were instrumental and attitudinal related. Lack of information about how to access services and solve the problem by themselves was the most common barriers followed by time and financial affords. Conclusions It appears that Mansoura medical students are at higher risk of feeling the need for mental care. Considerable barriers to help-seeking remain prevalent, including both logistical (e.g., time) and informational (e.g., lack of knowledge about the available services).https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-022-00267-0Mental healthMedical studentsPatient acceptance of health careMental health servicesHealth behavior
spellingShingle Doaa Abdel-Hady
Mohamed Baklola
Mohamed Terra
Abdel-Hady El-Gilany
Patterns and barriers of mental health service utilization among medical students: a cross-sectional study
Middle East Current Psychiatry
Mental health
Medical students
Patient acceptance of health care
Mental health services
Health behavior
title Patterns and barriers of mental health service utilization among medical students: a cross-sectional study
title_full Patterns and barriers of mental health service utilization among medical students: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Patterns and barriers of mental health service utilization among medical students: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Patterns and barriers of mental health service utilization among medical students: a cross-sectional study
title_short Patterns and barriers of mental health service utilization among medical students: a cross-sectional study
title_sort patterns and barriers of mental health service utilization among medical students a cross sectional study
topic Mental health
Medical students
Patient acceptance of health care
Mental health services
Health behavior
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-022-00267-0
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AT abdelhadyelgilany patternsandbarriersofmentalhealthserviceutilizationamongmedicalstudentsacrosssectionalstudy