How perceived risk and personal and clinical experience affect medical students' decisions to seek treatment for major depression.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the role of perceived risk, and personal and clinical experience in medical students' treatment seeking behavior for major depression.


METHODS
In 2003, a questionnaire was administered to 173 first-year and 164 fourth-year medical students at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine to assess students' perception of risk for major depression in the general population and personal and clinical experience with major depression. Treatment-seeking behavior was examined using a hypothetical scenario. Data analysis used analysis of variance and regression models.


RESULTS
A total of 157 (91%) first-year and 108 (66%) fourth-year students completed the questionnaire. The majority overestimated the risk for major depression in the general population (p <.001), although respondents were more accurate for risk in the medical student population. The significant predictors for willingness to diagnose depression in the scenario were: risk perception (beta =.176, p <.01), clinical experience (beta =.173, p <.01) and personal treatment for major depression (beta =.188, p <.01). Significant predictors for willingness to refer to a professional were personal treatment (beta =.136, p <.05) and having a close friend treated for major depression (beta =.176, p <.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Students' hesitation to seek treatment may be explained by the overestimation of risk, which has been shown to cause increased anxiety and avoidance of health seeking behavior. Interestingly, personal experience was found to be a significant predictor of treatment seeking behavior. This information can be used in preparing health risk communication messages for medical students.
Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Office of Medical Education and Faculty Development, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Morton 1-673, Chicago, IL 60611-3008, USA. a-nuzzarello@northwestern.edu
Angela
A
Nuzzarello
Julie H
JH
Goldberg
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002641:Chicago; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires