title: A controlled trial of mental illness related stigma training for medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The evidence base for mental illness related stigma interventions in health care professionals and trainees is underdeveloped. This study aimed to examine the impact of mental illness related stigma training on third year medical students' knowledge, attitudes and behaviour related to people with mental illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-randomised controlled trial was conducted with 110 third year medical students at a medical school in England to determine the effectiveness of a mental illness related stigma training package that targeted their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected a significant positive effect of factual content and personal testimonies training upon an improvement in knowledge, F(1, 61) = 16.3, p = 0.0002. No such difference was determined with attitudes or for behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour may need to be separately targeted in stigma reduction interventions, and separately assessed. The inter-relationships between these components in mental health promotion and medical education warrant further research. The study next needs to be replicated with larger, representative samples using appropriate evaluation instruments. More intensive training for medical students may also be required.
authors.affiliation: Section of Community Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF UK. kassama@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: Aliya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kassam
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Glozier
authors.forename: Morven
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leese
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loughran
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thornicroft
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D004501:Education, Medical; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011287:Prejudice; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult