medical student's attitude toward psychiatric wards at iran university of medical sciences

this descriptive study investigates medical students' attitudes toward psychiatric wards. the study was completed at two psychiatric hospitals of shaheed navab safavi, and shaheed ismaily, as well as the psychiatric ward of shaheed rahnamoon hospital. medical students at two level of internship and stagery participated in the study. they completed questionnaires containing general information and attitude toward psychiatric wards. the results indicated that medical students of iran university of medical sciences generally, hold positive attitude toward psychiatric wards. stagers before and after the psychiatric course work have a more positive attitude, whereas, interns have a negative attitude. attitude of the two groups have no cirrelation with age, sex, the setting of hospitals, completion of theoretical psychiatric courses, acquiatance with psychiatric patients, work experience in psychiatric centers and familiarity with psychiatric concepts. students' attitudes toward psychiatry, course in psychiatry, treatment activities, psychologists, psychiatrists and intra-ward relationships were positive. the students' view on physical environment of psychiatric wards was neutral.