The impact of a mental health-focused ethics lecture on pharmacy students’ perceptions of patients with mental illness: An observational study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2025.251.1019Keywords:
Ethic, Lecture, Mental health, Mental illness, PerceptionAbstract
Background: Societal perspectives that involve negative ideation and stereotyping behaviours from health care providers, even those still in training, toward individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness can reduce the likelihood of successful outcomes.
Objective: To examine the impact of didactic, lecture-based, educational interventions on reducing the stigma of mental illness among pharmacy students.
Methods: A survey was distributed pre- and post-lecture to all third-year pharmacy students who attended an “Ethics of Mental Health” lecture in 2021 and 2022. Data were collected and analysed using T-tests. Statistical significance was determined with an alpha of 0.05.
Results: Higher affirmative post-survey responses were observed in 2022 (average 15.46%) and 2021 (average 9.5%). Respondents approved all controversial ethical rights except voting which was the only survey question with less positive responses-1.23% was allowed the right to vote. Respondents supported the rights to refuse medications and COVID-19 vaccinations, to engage in sexual relationships, to be given erectile dysfunction medications while hospitalised, and for gun ownership post-hospitalisation.
Conclusion: Simple didactic dialogue about controversial topics, like those leading to potential discrimination, can be a productive avenue to ensure the development of non-biased clinicians.
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