한 대학병원의 근무자와 이용자의 정신질환에 대한 인식의 비교 연구

The Comparative research Between the Awareness Toward Mental Illness of the Employees and the Users in a University Hospital

Objective: This study investigated awareness of mental disease on the part of hospital employees and compared it with that of the general population to identify methods for implementing and maintaining early treatment. Subjects and Methods: The subjects were 177 employees of Chosun University Hospital and 172 hospital visitors. Data were collected using a questionnaire that examined demographics and posed 40 questions on the awareness of mental diseases. Results: 1) Hospital employees were more aware of the prevalence, symptoms, and causes of mental disease than were the general population. 2) Regarding differences in awareness of a mental disease according to occupation within the hospital, hospital administrators had more prejudicial views with respect to supernatural and religious concepts of mental disease, unscientific treatment methods, the condition of a mental disease, and the course of treatment than did doctors or nurses. 3) Regarding differences with respect to direct and indirect experiences of mental disease on the part of hospital employees, the group experiencing no mental disease was less prejudiced, which is contrary to the results for the general population. Conclusions: Hospital employees who have more opportunities to confront mental disease and to receive training had a higher level of awareness of, and more positive attitudes toward, mental disease. Nevertheless, those experiencing a mental disease directly had greater prejudice. Therefore, regarding education about mental diseases, it is necessary that an in-depth education method is designed, one that goes beyond simply delivering knowledge about the various diseases.