Comparative survey of beliefs about mental illness among pharmacy and non-pharmacy students of a Nigerian university

Purpose The purpose of this paper was to assess and compare beliefs about mental illness among pharmacy and non-pharmacy students and to explore its associated factors. Design/methodology/approach This research was a cross-sectional survey conducted among undergraduate pharmacy and non-pharmacy students of a Nigerian university. The selected participants completed the Belief toward Mental Illness questionnaires after usual class lectures. Descriptive statistics, chi(2) test, and t-test were used for data analysis. The level of significance was set at pFindings Overall, pharmacy and non-pharmacy undergraduate students demonstrated negative beliefs about mental illness. There were no substantial differences in beliefs about mental illness among both groups of students. Students' class, age, visit to a mental hospital and personal experience of mental disorder were significantly associated with beliefs about mental illness. Originality/value There appears to be little or no data on the beliefs of undergraduate pharmacy trainees about mental disorders in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.