1. Running Head: ADVANCED NURSING RESEARCH
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ADVANCED NURSING RESEARCH
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Advanced Nursing Research (Research Study)
Student Name
Institution-Affiliated
Different Parts of a Research Study
Research topic
A systematic review of the association between stigma and or
on help-seeking among mental health patients.
Research Problem
Stigma or the process of labelling, discrimination and prejudice
towards individuals suffering from mental health problems is
considered to have numerous adverse consequences compared to
the health conditions themselves according to Thornicroft,
Mehta, Clement, Evans-Lacko, Doherty, Rose & Henderson,
(2016). In addition, research has found stigma to be responsible
for the failure of numerous individuals suffering from mental
health to seek help from both their close relatives or trusted
individuals and from healthcare providers (Clement, Schauman,
Graham, Maggioni, Evans-Lacko, Bezborodovs, Thornicroft,
2015).
Given an increase in mental health disorders and the challenges
that such disorders pose to both individuals and society,
numerous studies have been conducted to examine the

2. association between stigma and help-seeking among mental
health patients. However, research has largely focused on the
attitudes that constitute stigma towards mental health patients
and little on the interventions required to reduce or eradicate
stigma. Moreover, since the failure to reduce stigma prevents
mental health patients from seeking help and hence worsening
their conditions, there is need for further studies regarding the
association between stigma and help-seeking and the need to
reduce stigma making the study not only relevant but
significant.
Research purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the association between
stigma and help-seeking among mental health patients and to
identify proven strategies or actionable recommendation for
reducing stigma.
Research objectives
The objective of the study will be to (1) Explore the extent to
which stigma posses a barrier to help-seeking among mental
health patients, (2) Identify whether stigma affects certain
populations more than others and (3) propose strategies that can
help reduce stigma.
Research question
The study will aim to answer the following questions (1) What
is the association between stigma towards mental health patients
and help-seeking? (2) To what extent does stigma constitute a
barrier to the search for help among mental health patients and
(3) Are there populations that are more deterred from seeking
help due to stigma?
Research hypothesis
Ho: Stigma towards mental health patients deters them from
seeking help
Ha: There is no association between stigma and the search for

3. help among mental health patients.
In addition, the study hypothesizes that a reduction in stigma
would result in increased help-seeking among mental health
patients.
References
Clement, S., Schauman, O., Graham, T., Maggioni, F., Evans-
Lacko, S., Bezborodovs, N., ... & Thornicroft, G. (2015). What
is the impact of mental health-related stigma on help-seeking?
A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative
studies. Psychological medicine, 45(1), 11-27.
Thornicroft, G., Mehta, N., Clement, S., Evans-Lacko, S.,
Doherty, M., Rose, D., ... & Henderson, C. (2016). Evidence for
effective interventions to reduce mental-health-related stigma
and discrimination. The Lancet, 387(10023), 1123-1132.
Running Head: ADVANCE NURSING RESEARCH
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ADVANCE NURSING RESEARCH
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The Details of Your EBP Project.
EBP Project Proposal Draft
Research topic
To assess the role of stigma towards mental health patients in
help seeking.
Research problem
Most studies have shown that stigmatization towards mental
health patients have been present throughout history and even
despite the evolution in modern medicine and advanced
treatment. Stigmatization have resulted from the belief that
those with mental problem are aggressive and dangerous

4. creating a social distance (Szeto et al., 2017). Also, mental
health-related stigma has become of major concern as it creates
crucial barriers to access treatment and quality care since it not
only influences the behaviour of the patients but also the
attitude of the providers hence impacting help-seeking. Most
studies have identified stigma as a barrier that is of significance
to care or help seeking while the extent to which it still remains
a barrier have not been reviewed deeply. Therefore, this study
will assess the role contributed by stigma in help seeking in
depth.
Research purpose
The intention of the research study is to review the association
between stigma, mental illness and help seeking in order to
assess in depth the role that mental-health stigma contribute in
help seeking.
Research objectives
a) To review the background history of mental-health related
stigma and mental problem or illness
b) To explore the impacts of stigma
c) To assess an association between the contributing factors of
stigma to help seeking
d) To assess the extent in which these factors of stigma
contribute to help seeking.
e) To assess the risk factors influencing help seeking with
regard to stigma
Research questions
a) What is the association between stigma towards mental health
patients and help-seeking?
b) To what degree does stigma constitute a barrier to the search
for help among mental health patients?

5. c) Are there populations that are more deterred from seeking
help due to stigma?
Research Hypothesis
Ho: stigma towards mental health patients have a significant
role in influencing help seeking
Ha: the extent to which stigma influences help seeking is not
significant
Theoretical framework
Stigma has been described as a negative effect of a label and the
product of disgrace that makes a person to be apart from others
(Henderson et al., 2013). It is built upon distinct constructs
prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes (Henderson et al.,
2013). For example, believing that those people diagnosed with
mental illness is stereotype. Also, agreeing with the fact that
those with mental problem are indeed dangerous with a resultant
fear or anger is prejudice while discrimination is the total
avoidance to those with mental conditions as a result of
prejudice and stereotype. Mental problem or illness is a
condition that distorts an individual’s capability to relate to
others, thinking, mood feeling and also daily functioning (Szeto
et al., 2017).
Many studies have reported an existence of negative attitudes
with regard to mental health problem and social distance
(Henderson et al., 2013). This is because those persons with
mental problem are regarded as dangerous, a public nuisance
and aggressive. Some of the contributing factors include the
media which influences the society’s view, public perception
which is influenced by the level of understanding towards
mental health problems and the illness itself and also reluctance
to seek help which contribute to further stigmatization. Stigma
is therefore seen as barrier since it inhibits a person from
seeking help hence resulting to a treatment gap and
advancement in medical programs meant to reduce cases of
medical care (Szeto et al., 2017). Therefore, mental health-

6. related stigma is seen to influence help seeking by creating a
general pattern of behavior and attitudes.
References
Henderson, C., Evans-Lacko, S., & Thornicroft, G. (2013).
Mental Illness Stigma, Help Seeking, and Public Health
Programs. American Journal of Public Health, 103(5), 777-780.
doi:10.2105/ajph.2012.301056
Knaak, S., Mantler, E., & Szeto, A. (2017). Mental illness-
related stigma in healthcare. Healthcare Management
Forum, 30(2), 111-116. doi:10.1177/0840470416679413
Running Head: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROJECT
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RESEARCH
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Advance Nursing Research
Mental Health
Mental health is crucial in every stage of life. It is defined as
the state of psychological well-being whereby the individual
realizes a satisfactory integration instinctual drive acceptable to
both oneself and his or her social setting (Ritchie &
Roser, 2018). The status of mental health influences physical
health, relationships, and most importantly day-to-day life.
Mental health problems arise when there is a disruption in
mental well-being.
The risk factors to mental health problems are not limited and
therefore everyone is entitled to the problem irrespective of
gender, economic status, and ethnic group. For example, data
shows that in America one out of five individuals experience
mental health problems annually, with mental disorders being

7. recognized as the leading cause of disability not only in the
United States but also globally (Ritchie & Roser, 2018). Mental
health disorders are seen to be complex and of many forms such
as anxiety, mood, and schizophrenia, among others.
Data shows that in 2017 about seven hundred and ninety-two
million people lived with a mental disorder. Challenges have
been identified with data presentation since mental health
disorders are under-reported worldwide (Ritchie &
Roser, 2018). World health organization data shows that mental
health disorders are not only determined by one’s ability to
manage their thoughts, behavior and interaction with others but
also economic, environmental and social factors. For example,
the on-going global financial crisis creates a macroeconomic
phenomenon that provides a significant opportunity for mental
health consequences with an increased rate of suicide and
harmful substance use.
Most research studies have shown that there exist many gaps in
relation to mental health problems. The gap ranges from
treatment interventions and effective use of the available tools
to reduce the issues of mental health. For example, there exists
a research gap on the interventions meant to reduce and
eradicate stigma which has been recognized as a determinant of
mental health problems and this spiked my interest.
Therefore, in order to fill this gap such question as a) What is
the association between stigma towards mental health patients
and help-seeking? b) To what extent does stigma constitute a
barrier to the search for help among mental health patients? And
c) Are there populations that are more deterred from seeking
help due to stigma? Have to be answered through research to get
the intended purpose.
References
Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2018, April). Mental Health.
Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/mental-health

8. W.H.O. (2020). Mental Health. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/mental_health/en/
Informed Consent Template
This informed consent template has been adopted by the Regis
IRB to assist researchers in developing easy-to-read consent
documents. The format may be expanded, but the consent form
must contain all the elements below. The brackets [ ] contain
additional instructions and areas for customizing the form
according to the purpose and procedure of your study.
For studies involving adult participants (ages 18 and older), you
must obtain writteninformed consent. If your study involves
participants ages 7-17, you must obtain written assent from the
child and written informed consent from a parent or legal
guardian. For participants ages 6 or younger, you must obtain
oral assent from the child and written informed consent from a
parent or legal guardian.
Consent cannot truly be called “informed” unless the participant
understands the terms of his or her participation in the study. It
is the researcher’s responsibility to ensure that the consent
documents are comprehensible to the participants. The Regis
IRB requires researchers to assess the readability of their forms
using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score which is calculated
based on the average sentence length and the average number of
syllables per word. A grade of 7.0 would indicate that a
seventh grader would likely understand the document. The
Regis IRB also requires that an informed consent document for
an adult (age 18 or over) not exceed a score of 7.0. To test your
document’s grade level score in Microsoft Word:

9. · Click the “File” tab, and then click “Options.”
· Click “Proofing.”
· Under “When correcting spelling and grammar in Word” make
sure the “Check grammar with spelling” box is selected.
· Select “Show readability statistics.”
After you enable this feature, check the document’s spelling
(Click the “Review” tab; click “Spelling & Grammar”). When
Word finishes checking the spelling and grammar, it displays
information about the reading level of the document.
If the score is too high, try the following:
· Minimize the use of colons, semicolons, and punctuation other
than standard periods and question marks.
· Use short, concise sentences. Long, complex sentences can
often be divided into shorter ones to reduce the readability
level.
· Use a thesaurus to find synonyms that are more
comprehensible to the participants.
· People are often unfamiliar with terms commonly used in
academic fields. Use lay terms, and avoid academic jargon.
· Write as if you are speaking directly with a person.
Sometimes, this process can be a bit frustrating. Try to
remember that appropriate readability is at the core of fully
informing research participants about their rights and what they
will experience. In other words, informed consent is a vital
element in conducting ethical research.
Regis College [school or department name]Informed Consent to
be in [title of study]Researcher: [name of principal investigator
(PI)]
Introduction
Please read this form carefully. You are being asked to be in a
research study of [Insert a general statement about the study.].
You were selected to be in this study because [List inclusion

10. criteria.]. You are not eligible to participate if [List exclusion
criteria.]. Please ask any questions you may have before you
agree to be in the study. You will receive copy of this consent
form.
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is [Explain the research question and
purpose in lay language.].
What Will Happen in the Study
If you agree to be in this study, we would ask you to [Explain
procedures and tasks. Identify any procedures that are
experimental. Describe the length of time for participation,
frequency, and duration of procedures, etc. For example, if
participants will be interviewed during the study you would
describe: how many interviews, the length of each interview,
and/or where the interview will take place.].
Benefits of Being in this Study
The benefits of being in this study are [State the anticipated
benefits the research will produce for society and/or the
participants. If there are no expected benefits, state as such.].
Risks and Discomforts of Being in this Study
The study has the following risks. First [Explain the first risk,
its likelihood, and how it will be minimized.]. Second, [Explain
the second risk, its likelihood, and how it will be minimized.].
Third, . . . [If there are no foreseeable risks, state there are no
expected risks.].
Payments

11. You will receive the following payment for being in the study:
[Explain the amount of payment or other reimbursement
information (e.g., class points, tokens, donations, etc.), as well
as when payment and/or reimbursement will occur and in what
cases payment will not occur, if any].
[If there is no payment, state: There is no payment for being in
this study.]
Cost
There is no cost to you for being in this research study.
Choosing to Be in the Study and Choosing to Quit the Study
It is your choice to be in this study. If you choose not to be in
this study, it will not affect your current or future relations with
Regis. You are free to decline to answer questions or quit at any
time, for any reason. There is no penalty for not taking part or
for quitting. [If you are using students, you must include a
statement that participating or not participating in the study will
have no impact on their academic status. If you are using
employees, you must state that participating or not participating
in the study will have no impact on their employment status.
Explain consequences (e.g., adjusted monetary benefits) of
early withdrawal, if any.]
Getting Dismissed from the Study
The researcher may dismiss you from the study at any time for
the following reasons: [Include the reasons, for example, “(1) it
is in your best interests (e.g., side effects or distress), (2) you
have not followed the study rules, or (3) the study sponsor
decided to end the study.”].
Privacy

12. The records of this study will be kept private. [Explain how
information about the participants will be protected, for
example, “Research records will be kept in a locked file” or
“All electronic information will be coded and secured using a
password-protected file.” Explain who will have access to the
study records, and when and how they will be destroyed.
Responses are anonymous when the researcher does not know
the identity or any identifying information about who wrote
them. If you are keeping a list connecting participants’ names to
ID numbers, explain how you will keep that information
protected and separate from your data analysis. If applicable,
state that the responses are meant to be combined with other
participants’ data and are not meant to gather information about
specific individuals.] No published reports will include any
information that will make it possible to identify you.
Contacts and Questions
The researcher conducting this study is: [PI’s name]. The
researcher will be available to answer any questions about the
study at: [phone number and email address]. If you have
questions or concerns about your rights, you may contact the
Regis Institutional Review Board Chair:
------------
Statement of Consent[Choose only one statement according to
the type of consent form.]
[Adult Participant Informed Consent]
I have read this form (or have had it read to me). I have been
encouraged to ask questions. I have received answers to my
questions. I give my consent to be in this study. I have received
(or will receive) a copy of this form. I understand the risks and
discomforts associated with the above study and understand that
I may quit the study at any time without penalty.

13. [Parent/Guardian Informed Consent for Participants Ages 17
and Younger]
I have read this form (or have had it read to me). I have been
encouraged to ask questions. I have received answers to my
questions. I give my consent for my child to be in this study. I
have received (or will receive) a copy of this form. I understand
the risks and discomforts associated with the above study and
understand that my child may quit the study at any time without
penalty.
Signature(s)/Date[Delete any that do not apply to your
protocol.]
[Adult Participant Informed Consent]
Participant Printed Name:
___________________________________
Participant Signature:
___________________________________ Date: __________
[Parent/Guardian Informed Consent for Participants Ages 17
and Younger]
Study Participant Printed Name:
___________________________________
Parent/Guardian Printed Name:
___________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature:
___________________________________ Date: __________
[Interpreter for Non-English-Speaking Participants]

14. Interpreter Printed Name:
___________________________________
Interpreter Signature:
___________________________________ Date: __________
[Participant’s Legal Representative]
Participant Printed Name:
___________________________________
Legal Representative Printed Name:
___________________________________
Legal Representative Signature:
________________________________ Date: __________
Witness Printed Name:
___________________________________
Witness Signature: ___________________________________
Date: __________
Revised 08/03/15
Participant’s Initials _______