Table 3

Item-wise responses to barriers to healthcare seeking questionnaire for medical students

		Strongly disagree (n)	Disagree (n)	Agree (n)	Strongly agree (n)	Wilcoxon W (p value)
1	I do not believe a medical student would have a mental health problem that would require the services of a psychologist/psychiatrist	176	215	55	15	−6.474 (<0.001)*
2	I do not believe a medical student would have a physical health problem that would require the services of a general physician	245	172	37	7	−6.474 (<0.001)*
3	If I experience a mental health problem, it may be viewed as a sign of weakness by my teachers and peers	46	141	236	38	−10.413 (<0.001)*
4	If I experience a physical health problem, it may be viewed as a sign of weakness by my teachers and peers	87	233	124	17	−10.413 (<0.001)*
5	I would know the necessary steps to take to arrange an appointment for myself with the psychiatry department if needed	39	147	241	34	−11.252 (<0.001)*
6	I would know the necessary steps to take to arrange an appointment for myself with the medicine department if needed	5	57	307	92	−11.252 (<0.001)*
7	I would know the necessary steps to take to arrange an appointment for myself with a private psychologist/psychiatrist outside my institute if needed	75	180	185	21	−9.783 (<0.001)*
8	I would know the necessary steps to take to arrange an appointment for myself with a private general physician outside my institute if needed	30	120	261	50	−9.783 (<0.001)*
9	I would have the time to make and attend an appointment with a psychologist/psychiatrist if needed	20	101	286	54	−7.027 (<0.001)*
10	I would have the time to make and attend an appointment with a general physician if needed	8	58	321	74	−7.027 (<0.001)*
11	I do not believe that a mental health appointment would be beneﬁcial for myself, as I do not believe a psychologist/psychiatrist could tell me anything I do not already know	116	263	67	15	−7.626 (<0.001)*
12	I do not believe that a physical health appointment would be beneﬁcial for myself, as I do not believe a general physician could tell me anything that I do not already know	185	236	35	5	−7.626 (<0.001)*
13	If I were to experience symptoms of a mental health problem, I would think that perhaps I do not have a mental health problem at all but rather I am simply over identifying with the symptoms described in my textbooks and classes	17	105	274	65	−6.799 (<0.001)*
14	If I were to experience symptoms of a physical health problem, I would think that perhaps I do not have a physical health problem at all but rather am simply over identifying with the symptoms described in my textbooks and classes	24	176	222	39	−6.799 (<0.001)*
15	I would feel that attending a psychiatry department would somehow hamper my grades or educational opportunities within my institute and⁄or my future career prospects	91	257	96	17	−10.017 (<0.001)*
16	I would feel that attending a medicine department would somehow hamper my grades or educational opportunities within my institute and⁄or my future career prospects	161	263	31	6	−10.017 (<0.001)*
17	If I needed mental healthcare, I would be worried that I would either know the psychologist/psychiatrist at my institute or would have to have future dealings with him or her during my period of study here.	67	161	181	52	−9.125 (<0.001)*
18	If I needed physical healthcare, I would be worried that I would either know the physician at my institute or would have to have future dealings with him or her during my period of study here.	97	228	119	17	−9.125 (<0.001)*
19	It is more convenient for me to consult informally with a peer, senior or consultant about my mental health problems than to make a formal documented consultation with prior appointment	28	70	267	96	−5.706 (<0.001)*
20	It is more convenient for me to consult informally with a peer, senior or consultant about my physical health problems than to make a formal documented consultation with prior appointment	37	114	242	68	−5.706 (<0.001)*
21	I would feel comfortable self-diagnosing my own mental health problems	89	194	155	23	−2.801 (0.005)
22	I would feel comfortable self-diagnosing my own physical health problems	91	230	120	20	−2.801 (0.005)
23	If I needed to see a psychologist/psychiatrist at my institute's psychiatry department, I would be worried about conﬁdentiality, especially about my classmates and/or teachers ﬁnding out	31	121	223	86	−11.306 (<0.001)*
24	If I needed to see a physician at my institute's medicine department, I would be worried about conﬁdentiality, especially about my classmates and/or teachers ﬁnding out	62	220	146	33	−11.306 (<0.001)*
25	If I choose to see a psychologist/psychiatrist at my institute for my mental health problems, I would be socially ostracised and isolated by my peers	72	250	118	21	−10.304 (<0.001)*
26	If I choose to see a physician at my institute for my physical health problems, I would be socially ostracised and isolated by my peers	125	300	31	5	−10.304 (<0.001)*
27	I would prefer alternative and complementary medicine (like homoeopathy or ayurveda) for treatment of mental health problems	136	226	86	13	−0.657 (0.511)
28	I would prefer alternative and complementary medicine (like homoeopathy or ayurveda) for treatment of physical health problems	145	216	85	15	−0.657 (0.511)

Comparisons reflect the contrast between mental healthcare seeking and physical health seeking (ie, the alternate odd and even statements) using the paired Wilcoxon signed rank test.
*Statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons.