Factors Influencing Stigma Toward Mental Disorders Among Healthcare Workers: An Observational Study

Introduction: The stigma perpetuated by healthcare workers toward people with mental disorders exacerbates both the actual and perceived quality of care, adversely affecting various clinical outcomes. Objectives: Assess the level of stigma among healthcare professionals and investigate factors that could be predictive. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The OMS-HC-15 scale was used to measure stigma level (ranging from 15 to 75) in 409 healthcare providers. Sociodemographic information, personal data, and professional experiences related to mental disorders were also collected. A linear regression model was used to elucidate the factors that influence the level of stigma. Results: The median stigma score was 33, in line with previous studies. In bivariate analysis, stigma level was statistically associated (p < 0.05) to professional experience with mental disorder (lower level), to the healthcare department in which one was engaged (lower in community services, higher in hospital), and to political orientation (higher among those identified as “right-wing”) and religious affiliation (higher among Christians compared to atheists/agnostics). In multivariate analysis, identification as “right-wing” was predictive of higher stigma, while preliminary specific mental health training and working in mental health or primary/community care services predicted lower stigma. Conclusions: These results highlight the multifaceted nature of attitudes of healthcare workers toward individuals with mental disorders, informing the need for targeted stigma-reduction interventions. Understanding this phenomenon and its implications for healthcare is a crucial step toward enhancing quality of care.