Scales for Assessing Attitudes of Medical Students and Health Professionals Toward Mental Illness and Psychiatry: A Scoping Review.

Purpose of the Review: Attitudes toward mental illness and psychiatry (ATMIP) have been widely studied, and various instruments have been developed to assess them. However, the characteristics and psychometric properties of these instruments have not been comprehensively reviewed, leaving researchers uncertain about which scale to use in specific contexts. This review aims to synthesize the features of these scales, including their psychometric properties. Collection and Analysis of Data: Following Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework, a comprehensive search was conducted across Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. Studies reporting scales designed to assess ATMIP among medical students and healthcare professionals (HCPs) were included. Data were extracted on scale characteristics, domains, psychometric evaluation, and cultural adaptations. Twenty-two scales were eligible for inclusion. Most originated in Western contexts and were primarily developed for medical students and HCPs. The majority used Likert-type items or vignette-based assessments, and 19 scales (86.3%) reported psychometric evaluation. While most scales were initially developed in English and global south setting and later adapted to non-Western settings, contextual sensitivity and cultural validity varied. Overall, despite frequent reporting of psychometric properties, the applicability of these instruments across diverse cultural and educational contexts remains uncertain. Conclusions: This review provides researchers and educators with a consolidated understanding of existing scales, guiding informed use, adaptation, and potential development of culturally relevant instruments for ATMIP assessment. Careful selection and adaptation to local needs are essential to accurately assess attitudes toward psychiatry globally.