title: Changing undergraduate attitudes to mental illness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Promoting positive experiences of patient contact during psychiatry clerkships may be important in influencing medical students' attitudes to people with mental illness. Here we report findings from a focus group study that explored the impact on undergraduate attitudes of participation in a novel social interaction programme for people with mental illness and their carers, provided by a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
  
  
  METHODS
  An audio-taped focus group interview was undertaken with 14 medical students using a semi-structured interview guide. The recorded discussion was transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial apprehension about interacting with patients lessened as the students engaged in shared activities. Students described their increased awareness of the normality and competence of psychiatric patients. As future doctors, they reported a greater understanding of the benefits of social inclusion for patients and carers alike. Promoting positive experiences of patient contact … may be important in influencing medical students' attitudes to people with mental illness
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical students' joint participation in a group activity programme for people with mental illness in non-hospital settings may have advantages in promoting positive attitudinal change. Clinical teachers could usefully incorporate this type of experience into the undergraduate psychiatry curriculum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Penang Medical College, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Arokiamary
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bharathy
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Disted College, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Pei-Lynn
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Penang Medical College, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D058992:Social Participation; D012944:Social Support; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*