Table 2 Factor analysis pattern matrix, R-DAQ, total sample

7: I feel confident in assessing depression in patients

.896

-.043

.016

17: I feel confident in assessing suicide risk in patients presenting with depression

.856

-.042

.019

1: I feel comfortable in dealing with depressed patients’ needs

.789

.034

.044

15: My profession is well trained to assist patients with depression

.777

-.087

-.076

8: I am more comfortable working with physical illness than with mental illnesses like depression (reversed)

.715

.069

-.083

11: My profession is well placed to assist patients with depression

.617

.011

.063

19: It is rewarding to spend time looking after depressed patients

.583

.078

.128

20: Becoming depressed is a natural part of adolescence (reversed)

-.106

.646

-.015

12: Becoming depressed is a way that people with poor stamina deal with life difficulties (reversed)

-.019

.639

.082

18: Depression reflects a response which is not amenable to change (reversed)

.080

.570

.008

5: One of the main causes of depression is a lack of self-discipline and will-power (reversed)

.008

.564

.093

6: Depression treatments medicalise unhappiness (reversed)

-.073

.532

.014

9: Becoming depressed is a natural part of being old (reversed)

-.119

.525

.009

21: There is little to be offered to depressed patients who do not respond to initial treatments (reversed)

.136

.478

-.041

3: Psychological therapy tends to be unsuccessful with people who are depressed (reversed)

.268

.360

-.020

13: Once a person has made up their mind about taking their own life no one can stop them (reversed)

.046

.348

-.037

4: Antidepressant therapy tends to be unsuccessful with people who are depressed (reversed)

.151

.302

.018

22: Anyone can suffer from depression

.006

.068

.533

16: Recognising and managing depression is often an important part of managing other health problems

.056

.051

.521

14: People with depression have care needs similar to other medical conditions like diabetes, COPD or arthritis.

.004

-.081

.460

2: Depression is a disease like any other (e.g. asthma, diabetes)

-.077

-.028

.454

10: All health professionals should have skills in recognising and managing depression

.088

.081

.388