Open AccessValidation of the Opening Minds Scale and patterns of stigma in Chilean primary health care
Author(s) -
Jaime C. Sapag,
Rachel Klabunde,
Luís Villarroel,
Paola Velasco,
Cinthia Álvarez,
Claudia Parra,
Sireesha J. Bobbili,
Franco Mascayano,
Inés Bustamante,
Rubén Alvarado,
Patrick W. Corrigan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0221825
Subject(s) - stigma (botany) , confirmatory factor analysis , psychological intervention , clinical psychology , public health , population , psychology , construct validity , scale (ratio) , medicine , mental health , latin americans , gerontology , health care , social stigma , psychometrics , psychiatry , family medicine , environmental health , nursing , structural equation modeling , linguistics , statistics , philosophy , mathematics , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , economics , economic growth , physics , quantum mechanics
Objectives Stigma toward people with mental health problems (MHP) in primary health care (PHC) settings is an important public health challenge. Research on stigma toward MHP is relatively scarce in Chile and Latin America, as are instruments to measure stigma that are validated for use there. The present study aims to validate the Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Professionals (OMS-HC) among staff and providers in public Chilean PHC clinics, and examine differences in stigma by sociodemographic characteristics. Methods 803 participants from 34 PHC clinics answered a self-administered questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis was completed. Average 15-item OMS-HC scores were calculated, and means were compared via t-test or ANOVA to identify group differences. Correlations of OMS-HC scores with other commonly used stigma scores were calculated to evaluate construct validity. Results The 3-factor OMS-HC structure was confirmed in this population. The average OMS-HC (α = 0.69) score was 34.55 (theoretical range 15–75). Significantly lower (less stigmatizing) mean OMS-HC scores were found in those with additional training and/or personal experience with MHP. Conclusion The validated, Spanish version of OMS-HC can be of use to further research stigma toward MHP in Chile and Latin America, advancing awareness and inspiring interventions to reduce stigma in the future.