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Pharmacy student attitudes to mental illness and the provision of mental health care: a repeated cross-sectional survey

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Abstract

Background

Attitudes to mental illness are an important factor in the willingness of professionals to engage in mental health care.

Aim

The aim of this study was to understand attitudes of undergraduate pharmacy students in Ireland to severe mental illness and the provision of medicines optimisation services as well as the variation in these attitudes throughout the undergraduate course.

Method

A survey instrument was compiled using existing published research and validated questionnaires. The survey was distributed to students in their first, third and Master of Pharmacy years annually between 2014 and 2019. Although designed as a longitudinal study, following the matching process there were a limited number of students who completed more than one survey and therefore data were treated as independent samples.

Results

The overall average response rate was 25% per survey (n = 191 participants) Notwithstanding generally positive attitudes, a sizeable proportion of students felt people with severe depression and schizophrenia were hard to talk to (n = 48, 25.3%; n = 54, 29.2%) Less than half of MPharm students expressed confidence and competence in caring for people with more severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and 29% (n = 60) of students would feel awkward asking someone about their antipsychotic medication. Almost two thirds (n = 120, 63.8%) expressed an interest in a career in mental health.

Conclusion

Irish pharmacy students have generally positive attitudes towards people with severe mental illness and provision of medicines optimisation services. There is an opportunity to improve pharmacy graduates perceived competence and confidence to provide mental health services.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the original authors of the survey instruments for allowing their use in this study. We are most grateful to the team at the Quality Enhancement Office for distributing the surveys. Sincere gratitude is extended to all of the students who participated in the research.

Funding

No specific funding was received.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Saint John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, Co Dublin, Ireland

    Dolores Keating & Stephen McWilliams

  2. School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 123 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Dolores Keating & Judith Strawbridge

  3. School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Stephen McWilliams & Mary Clarke

  4. DETECT Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Blackrock, Co Dublin, Ireland

    Mary Clarke

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  1. Dolores Keating
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  2. Stephen McWilliams
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Correspondence to Dolores Keating.

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Keating, D., McWilliams, S., Clarke, M. et al. Pharmacy student attitudes to mental illness and the provision of mental health care: a repeated cross-sectional survey. Int J Clin Pharm 45, 1231–1240 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-023-01651-4

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