Roberto C. Quiñones-Robles, Unidad Académica de Medicina Humana y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Zacatecas, México
Cristina Almeida-Perales, Unidad Académica de Medicina Humana y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Zacatecas, México
Dellanira Ruiz de Chávez-Ramírez, Unidad Académica de Medicina Humana y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Zacatecas, México
Carolina Díaz-Flores, Unidad Académica de Medicina Humana y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Zacatecas, México
Pascual G. García-Zamora, Unidad Académica de Medicina Humana y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Zacatecas, México
Background: Medical education is associated with different mental disorders, a growing concern. Additionally, several barriers have been reported that hinder the use of mental health care services among physicians in training. Objective: To identify the main barriers faced by medical students in seeking professional help and care the mental health. Material and methods: Cross-sectional observational study of descriptive and analytical type, in medical students (n = 305), in whom the BACE (Barriers to Care Evaluation) instrument was applied and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was applied. Results: Based on mean subscale values of the instrument, the barriers from highest to lowest were: stigma (x–= 0.69, SD = 0.264), attitudinal (x–= 0.67, SD = 0.472)and structural (x–= 0.63, SD = 0.396). The characteristics most correlated with barriers included female gender, identificationwith gender and sexual diversity, having a mental health disorder, and exhibiting suicidal behavior (p < 0.05) Conclusions: These findings are key in the creation of approaches to mitigate the impact these barriers have on the mental health care of medical students.
Keywords: Medical students. Mental health. Barriers to access of health services. Help-seeking behavior. Social stigma.