Attitudes and views on psychiatry: a comparison between Spanish and U.S. medical students.
OBJECTIVE
In order to gain a broader view about the process of recruitment, we decided to compare and analyze the differences between the attitudes and views of Spanish and U.S. medical students towards psychiatry.


METHODS
The opinions of 151 students who had completed psychiatry at the end of their fourth year were sought on the basis of their responses to a 33-item questionnaire, using a cross sectional design.


RESULTS
Although in general, Spanish students showed a positive attitude towards psychiatry, the opinion about certain aspects like the biopsychosocial concept of illness, salary, social pressure and respect from nonpsychiatry staff were different from U.S. students' opinions.


CONCLUSIONS
These opinions may have influenced the 6% of Spanish students who chose psychiatry as a possible specialty, somewhat higher than the 4.5% of U.S. students.
Pailhez
Guillem
G
Department of Mental Health, Centres Assistencials Dr. Emili Mira i López, Av. Prat de la Riba, 171, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, 08921 Barcelona, Spain. pailhezvg@diba.es
Bulbena
Antonio
A
Coll
Joaquim
J
Ros
Salvador
S
Balon
Richard
R
D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology*; D002321:Career Choice; D006801:Humans; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D012201:Reward; D013030:Spain; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States