Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIM: Bipolar disorder (BD) is one of the most challenging psychiatric disorders
in the management area that can lead to functional, occupational, and cognitive disorders. Without
proper care, this complication can lead to profound psychological challenges and even death. The
aim of this study is to design a minimum data set (MDS) for BD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive cross‑sectional study was conducted in two steps.
In the first step, a survey was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases to
identify the demographic, managerial, and clinical data elements. Then, the required data elements
were extracted from the studies by the data extraction form and used in a questionnaire. In the
second step, to confirm the data element set, the designed questionnaire was distributed and
collected among 20 psychiatrists and subspecialists during a two‑stage Delphi technique. Descriptive
statistics (frequency and mean) were conducted to analyze the data.
RESULTS: Totally, 112 managerial and clinical data elements in 14 categories were extracted from
the studies. Based on the experts’ opinion and their consensus, 88 necessary data elements were
considered to bipolar MDS. “Medication nonadherence,” “history of suicide,” and “substance abuse
and addiction” were the most important data elements.
CONCLUSION: In this study, an MDS was designed for BD. Providing this MDS, in addition to
improving the clinical processes, it is possible to help electronic system designers and health data
managers to know what information should be included in the health systems or any kind of self‑care
or self‑management software to meet the information needs of these patients.

Abstract BACKGROUND: “Stress” acts as both etiological link and also as an outcome in the case of diabetes
mellitus. There is a paucity of literature regarding stress levels and also factors associated with it
among diabetic patients in India.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the perceived stress levels and their associated factors among diabetic
inpatients in a rural tertiary health care center, South India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Afacility‑based cross‑sectional analytical study was conducted among
inpatient diabetics seeking care at a rural tertiary care center in Kolar district of Karnataka. Apre‑tested
semi‑structured questionnaire was used to capture the sociodemographic, disease‑related,
treatment‑related and behavior‑related characteristics of the inpatients. The outcome of “perceived
stress” was captured using a standard questionnaire of Cohen Perceived Stress Scale–10. Poisson
regression was used for multivariable analysis, and the association was expressed as prevalence
ratio with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
RESULTS: Out of the 247 study participants analysed, “perceived stress” was seen among 97 (39.3%)
of the participants (95% CI: 33.3%–45.5%). Multivariable analysis showed that factors like younger
age, lesser duration of diabetes, presence of any comorbidity, being underweight, having conflicts
at work place/home in the last 1 month, and not having enough money for treatment had shown
higher levels of “perceived stress.”
CONCLUSION: About two out of five inpatient diabetics seeking care from rural tertiary health centres
had shown to have “perceived stress.” There is a need for the inclusion of stress management
techniques in the diabetes education program at all levels of health‑care systems.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Worldwide, studies show negative attitude among medical students toward psychiatry
and mental illness. The knowledge of the attitude and awareness of the undergraduate medical students
toward psychiatry, mental health, and psychiatric disorders are most important as they are going to be
involved in the care of these patients either directly or indirectly during the later years of their careers.
AIM: This study aims to assess attitude toward psychiatry and mental illness among undergraduate
medical students.
METHODOLOGY: The responses of 67 medical students from the 6th semester (third professional
year) batch who completed their 2‑week clinical posting of psychiatry in 4th semester (i.e., second
professional year) were collected using validated questionnaires, attitude towards mental illness (AMI),
and attitude towards psychiatry (ATP) that assessed their attitudes to psychiatry and mental illness.
Double data entry and validation were done using EpiData and analysis using Epi Info software.
RESULTS: Median AMI score was 54 (out of maximum 100) showing a neutral AMI. Median ATP
score was 82 (out of maximum 150) also showing a neutral ATP. The theme‑wise analysis showed
that the attitude of students toward psychiatrist and psychiatry branch was relatively better compared
to their AMI.
CONCLUSION: Undergraduate students have a neutral attitude to psychiatry and mental illness.
More efforts are needed to change the attitude to favorable side.