Satisfaction with telepsychiatry and mental health stigma among health sciences students in Egyptian universities
摘要
Health sciences students have a higher incidence of mental health disorders; however, stigma and barriers have complicated help-seeking. Telepsychiatry may be a solution, but acceptance, satisfaction, and stigma in this population, especially in Egypt, remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of satisfaction regarding telepsychiatry, stigma perceived with respect to mental illness, among health sciences students towards mental health services. It also aims to assess sociodemographic factors associated with these outcomes. This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study conducted among 799 students from various universities in Egypt. It was conducted between August and November 2025, and the questionnaire involved sociodemographic data, the telepsychiatry satisfaction scale (21 items), and the STIG-9 stigma scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and t-tests, and linear regression, with significance set at p < 0.05. Overall, participants had a mean age of 21.4 years, while 66.8% of participants were female. In total, 24.0% agreed, and 18.4% strongly agreed to being satisfied with telepsychiatry, with a mean total satisfaction score of 67.84/105. The mean STIG‑9 stigma score was 14.44/27. Linear regression identified sociodemographic variables independently associated with satisfaction and stigma; higher stigma was also positively associated with higher satisfaction. In this cohort of Egyptian health sciences students with prior telepsychiatry experience, satisfaction with telepsychiatry was positively associated with perceived stigma. These findings suggest that addressing socio-cultural stigma may support the acceptability of telepsychiatry and improve engagement with digital mental health services in similar student populations.