Examining the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment practices and patient experience: a mental illness clinicians’ attitude scale version 4-based study in Saudi Arabia

Ibrahim Althiyabi; Abdullah Alsubhi; Nada Alshammari; Lamees Binmohammed; Rahaf Althobaiti; Anoud Althomali; Alanoud Alfadheli; Hayam Alenezi; Dareen Baz

doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1759636864

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Original Article
Online Published: 03 Nov 2025

IJMDC. 2025; 9(10): 2443-2456

doi: 10.24911/IJMDC.51-1759636864

Examining the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment practices and patient experience: a mental illness clinicians’ attitude scale version 4-based study in Saudi Arabia

Ibrahim Althiyabi, Abdullah Alsubhi, Nada Alshammari, Lamees Binmohammed, Rahaf Althobaiti, Anoud Althomali, Alanoud Alfadheli, Hayam Alenezi, Dareen Baz.

Abstract
Objective:
This study aimed to assess the prevalence of stigma among Saudi healthcare providers and to identify the demographic and professional factors associated with it.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia from January 2025 to August 2025, utilizing the 16-item Mental Illness Clinicians’ Attitudes Scale version 4 (MICA-4; range: 16–96, with higher scores indicating greater stigma). Demographic and work-related data were also collected. Linear regression analysis was employed to identify predictors of stigma.
Results:
Among 439 participants (58.1% female, 92.3% Saudi), the median MICA-4 score was 58.0 (IQR: 52.0–62.0), indicating moderate stigma. Stigma was higher in individuals aged ≥ 60 years (β = 13.0, p<0.001) and those with an associate degree (β = 5.58, p<0.001). Conversely, physicians exhibited lower stigma compared to nurses (β = –5.71, p<0.001). Participants with ≤ 1 year of clinical experience (all p<0.001) and those working in Riyadh (β = –5.60, p<0.001) reported reduced stigma levels.
Conclusion:
Significant stigma toward mental illness persists among Saudi healthcare providers, with variations based on profession, experience, and education. Targeted anti-stigma training and workplace intervention to improve crucial aspects of patient care and outcomes.

Key words: Impact, mental illness stigma, treatment practices, patient experience, Saudi Arabia

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Pubmed Style

Althiyabi I, Alsubhi A, Alshammari N, Binmohammed L, Althobaiti R, Althomali A, Alfadheli A, Alenezi H, Baz D. Examining the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment practices and patient experience: a mental illness clinicians’ attitude scale version 4-based study in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. 2025; 9(10): 2443-2456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1759636864

Web Style

Althiyabi I, Alsubhi A, Alshammari N, Binmohammed L, Althobaiti R, Althomali A, Alfadheli A, Alenezi H, Baz D. Examining the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment practices and patient experience: a mental illness clinicians’ attitude scale version 4-based study in Saudi Arabia. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=288274 [Access: December 09, 2025]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1759636864

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Althiyabi I, Alsubhi A, Alshammari N, Binmohammed L, Althobaiti R, Althomali A, Alfadheli A, Alenezi H, Baz D. Examining the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment practices and patient experience: a mental illness clinicians’ attitude scale version 4-based study in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. 2025; 9(10): 2443-2456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1759636864

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Althiyabi I, Alsubhi A, Alshammari N, Binmohammed L, Althobaiti R, Althomali A, Alfadheli A, Alenezi H, Baz D. Examining the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment practices and patient experience: a mental illness clinicians’ attitude scale version 4-based study in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC. (2025), [cited December 09, 2025]; 9(10): 2443-2456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1759636864

Harvard Style

Althiyabi, I., Alsubhi, . A., Alshammari, . N., Binmohammed, . L., Althobaiti, . R., Althomali, . A., Alfadheli, . A., Alenezi, . H. & Baz, . D. (2025) Examining the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment practices and patient experience: a mental illness clinicians’ attitude scale version 4-based study in Saudi Arabia. IJMDC, 9 (10), 2443-2456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1759636864

Turabian Style

Althiyabi, Ibrahim, Abdullah Alsubhi, Nada Alshammari, Lamees Binmohammed, Rahaf Althobaiti, Anoud Althomali, Alanoud Alfadheli, Hayam Alenezi, and Dareen Baz. 2025. Examining the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment practices and patient experience: a mental illness clinicians’ attitude scale version 4-based study in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (10), 2443-2456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1759636864

Chicago Style

Althiyabi, Ibrahim, Abdullah Alsubhi, Nada Alshammari, Lamees Binmohammed, Rahaf Althobaiti, Anoud Althomali, Alanoud Alfadheli, Hayam Alenezi, and Dareen Baz. "Examining the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment practices and patient experience: a mental illness clinicians’ attitude scale version 4-based study in Saudi Arabia." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9 (2025), 2443-2456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1759636864

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Althiyabi, Ibrahim, Abdullah Alsubhi, Nada Alshammari, Lamees Binmohammed, Rahaf Althobaiti, Anoud Althomali, Alanoud Alfadheli, Hayam Alenezi, and Dareen Baz. "Examining the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment practices and patient experience: a mental illness clinicians’ attitude scale version 4-based study in Saudi Arabia." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9.10 (2025), 2443-2456. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1759636864

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Althiyabi, I., Alsubhi, . A., Alshammari, . N., Binmohammed, . L., Althobaiti, . R., Althomali, . A., Alfadheli, . A., Alenezi, . H. & Baz, . D. (2025) Examining the impact of mental illness stigma on treatment practices and patient experience: a mental illness clinicians’ attitude scale version 4-based study in Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (10), 2443-2456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1759636864

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