Ying-Wei Liao
Department of Nursing, National Yang Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan
Title: Public Stigma towards people with mental disorders: A comparison of health professionals and the administrators working in Taiwan
Biography
Biography: Ying-Wei Liao
Abstract
Background: When patients with mental disorder enter medical facilities, the public stigma demonstrated by staff working in the medical facilities ultimately influence patients’ willingness to receive treatment. In severe cases, patients may even terminate their treatment. Purpose: The aim of this paper is to explore the differences of stigma towards people with mental disorders between health professionals and administrators working in the hospitals. Method: The participants (N=163) was recruited from hospitals. This study employs a cross-sectional research design to conduct a structured questionnaire survey of professional staff and general administrative staff working in medical facilities. The survey included demographic data, Perceived Psychiatric Stigma Scale, and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMIS). We changed the questionnaire content from internalized stigma to public stigma to patients with psychiatric disease. Data collection used web-based and paper-based surveys. The SPSS 18.0 with one way ANOVA was employed to analyze group mean differences. Results: The administrative staff showed greater alienation, greater social withdraw and total score of ISMIS than psychiatric and non-psychiatric professionals for patients with mental disorders. Conclusion Implication: The findings of this study could be served as a basis for encouraging medical facilities to enhance the education of related personnel and improve the public stigma that currently exists in the facilities, thereby creating a favorable medical environment