RESUMO
Abstract Introduction Factors affecting the quality of physician care include a shortage of trained staff, stigma, and discrimination. Objective The objective was to compare the intensity of stigmatization before and after a Psychiatry course, as measured by the scale of clinicians' attitudes towards mental illness, a version for medical students (MICA-2) designed to identify stigmatic attitudes towards mental disorders. Method The fifth-year Medicine students enrolled in the Psychiatry course answered anonymously using the MICA-2 test at the start and the end of their course. Additionally, we asked the students to answer a question about their interest in learning more about mental illness. Results Three hundred and thirty students were invited; 300 agreed to participate in the first application of the scales, and 291 in the follow-up. The average age was 22 ± 2 years, with a range of 20-30 years, and there was a similar gender distribution in both applications. In the initial application, the average score of the MICA-2 was 41.34 (SD = 7.86, 95% CI = [40.43, 42.25]). The follow-up application's mean was 37.10 (SD = 8.15, 95% CI = [36.30, 38.15]). Also, there was a decrease in interest in learning more about mental illness. Discussion and conclusion A reduction in the average scores of the MICA-2 was observed after a Psychiatry course, suggesting that attitudes toward mental disorders improved. A Psychiatry clerkship with close supervision modified the attitudes of medical students toward mental disorders. However, it did not increase their interest in learning more about mental illness.
Resumen Introducción Los factores que afectan la calidad de la atención médica incluyen: la escasez de personal capacitado, el estigma y la discriminación. Objetivo El objetivo fue comparar la intensidad de la estigmatización antes y después del curso de Psiquiatría, se utilizó la escala de las actitudes de los clínicos hacia la enfermedad mental, versión para estudiantes médicos (MICA-2), diseñada para identificar actitudes estigmatizantes hacia los trastornos mentales. Método Los estudiantes médicos de quinto año que tomaban el curso de Psiquiatría respondieron de forma anónima la escala MICA-2 al inicio y al final del curso. Además, se les preguntó sobre su interés en aprender más sobre los trastornos mentales. Resultados Se invitaron a 330 estudiantes; 300 aceptaron participar en la primera aplicación de las escalas y 291 en el seguimiento. La edad promedio fue de 22 ± 2 años, con un rango de 20-30 años; con una distribución de género similar en ambas aplicaciones. En la aplicación inicial, la puntuación media del MICA-2 fue de 41.34 (DE = 7.86, IC 95% = [40.43, 42.25]). En la de seguimiento, la media fue de 37.10 (DE = 8.15, IC 95% = [36.30, 38.15]). El interés en aprender más sobre los trastornos mentales disminuyó. Discusión y conclusión Observamos una reducción en los puntajes promedio después de tomar el curso de Psiquiatría, lo que sugiere que las actitudes hacia los trastornos mentales mejoraron. Un curso de Psiquiatría con mayor disposición y supervisión estrecha modificó las actitudes hacia los trastornos mentales de los estudiantes médicos, pero su interés en aprender más sobre los trastornos mentales disminuyó.
RESUMO
Background: Several studies have reported that variants rs16969968 G>A of the CHRNA5 gene and CYP2A6*12 of the CYP2A6 gene are associated with smoking and smoking refusal, respectively. In addition, some studies report that a higher cigarette consumption is associated with low body mass index (BMI). Aim: To analyze the allele and genotypic frequencies of these variants and their impact on smoking and BMI. Material and Methods: A blood sample was obtained and a survey about smoking habits was answered by 319 university students aged 18 to 35 years (127 women, 171 smokers), living in Northeastern Mexico. Genetic variants were studied by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism and their frequencies were associated with smoking and BMI. Results: No associations were found between the analyzed variants and smoking in the study groups. However, there was an association among non-smoking subjects between the A allele of rs16969968 and high a BMI (p < 0.01). Conclusions: This last variant may be involved in food-addiction disorders.