Knowledge and perceptions of Indian primary care nurses towards mental illness.

OBJECTIVES: To assess nurses' knowledge and perceptions towards mental illness. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among 126 randomly selected nurses those are working under District Mental Health program in Karnataka (India). The data was collected through self-reported questionnaires Using the modified version of Public perception of mental illness questionnaire and Attitude Scale for Mental Illness. RESULTS: The findings revealed that majority of the subjects were women (74.4%), Hindus (92.1%) and were from rural background (69.8%). The mean Knowledge score 10.8±1.6 adequate knowledge (maximum possible =12) among 91% of the subjects, and 52% of them hold negative attitudes towards people with mental illness (88.9±13.6). While majority of the subjects hold negative attitudes in 'Separatism' (53.5%), 'Stereotyping' (73%), 'Benevolence' (54%), 'Pessimistic prediction' (53%) domains, they hold positive attitudes in 'Restrictiveness' (88%) and 'Stigmatization' (72%) domains. Women than men endorsed positive attitudes towards persons with mental illness in Stereotyping' (p<0.001), 'Restrictiveness' (p<0.01), 'Benevolence' (p<0.001) and 'Pessimistic prediction' (t= 2.22, p<0.05) domains. Similarly, Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery found to be less restrictive (p<0.05), more benevolent (p<0.001) and less pessimistic (p<0.05) compared to nurses with higher education (General Nursing and Midwifery and Bachelor of Science in Nursing). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed adequate knowledge on mental illness among nurses. Yet they hold stigmatizing and negative attitudes towards mental illness. Hence, it is an urgent priority to develop and implement educational programs to inculcate positive attitudes towards people with mental illness to provide optimal care to this vulnerable population.

Knowledge and perceptions of Indian primary care nurses towards mental illness

Objective. To assess nurses' knowledge and perceptions towards mental illness. Methods. This was a crosssectional descriptive study conducted among 126 randomly selected nurses those are working under District Mental Health program in Karnataka (India). The data was collected through self-reported questionnaires Using the modified version of Public perception of mental illness questionnaire and Attitude Scale for Mental Illness. Results. The findings revealed that majority of the subjects were women (74.4%), Hindus (92.1%) and were from rural background (69.8%). The mean Knowledge score 10.8±1.6 adequate knowledge (maximum possible =12) among 91% of the subjects, and 52% of them hold negative attitudes towards people with mental illness (88.9±13.6). While majority of the subjects hold negative attitudes in 'Separatism' (53.5%), 'Stereotyping' (73%), 'Benevolence' (54%), 'Pessimistic prediction' (53%) domains, they hold positive attitudes in 'Restrictiveness'(88%) and 'Stigmatization' (72%) domains. Women than men endorsed positive attitudes towards persons with mental illness in Stereotyping' (p<0.001), 'Restrictiveness' (p<0.01), 'Benevolence' (p<0.001) and 'Pessimistic prediction' (t= 2.22, p<0.05) domains. Similarly, Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery found to be less restrictive (p<0.05), more benevolent (p<0.001) and less pessimistic (p<0.05) compared to nurses with higher education (General Nursing and Midwifery and Bachelor of Science in Nursing). Conclusion. The present study showed adequate knowledge on mental illness among nurses. Yet they hold stigmatizing and negative attitudes towards mental illness. Hence, it is an urgent priority to develop andimplement educational programs to inculcate positive attitudes towards people with mental illness to provide optimal care to this vulnerable population.

Objetivo. Evaluar los conocimientos y percepciones de las enfermeras de atención primaria hacia la enfermedad mental. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal con 126 enfermeras que trabajan en el programa de Salud Mental del Distrito en Karnataka (India). Los datos se recolectaron a partir de cuestionarios contestados por autorreporte, empleando la versión modificada del cuestionario Percepción pública de la enfermedad mental y la Escala de Actitudes hacia la enfemedad mental. Resultados. Los hallazgos revelaron que la mayoría de los participantes eran mujeres (74.4%), hindúes (92.1%) y de origen rural (69.8%). El puntaje promedio de conocimiento fue de 10.8±1.6, que indica un conocimiento adecuado (máximo posible = 12). El 52% de los participantes tienen actitudes negativas hacia las personas con enfermedades mentales, siendo mayor este porcentaje en los dominios 'Estereotipos' (73%), 'Benevolencia' (54%), 'Separatismo' (53.5%), 'Predicción pesimista' (53%); mientras que tienen actitudes positivas en 'Restricción' (88%) y 'Estigmatización '(72%). Las mujeres, en mayor porcentaje que los hombres, tuvieron actitudes positivas hacia las personas con enfermedades mentales en los dominios 'Estereotipos' (p<0.001), 'Restricción' (p<0.01), 'Benevolencia' (p<0.001) y 'Predicción pesimista' (p<0.05). Del mismo modo, las enfermeras parteras auxiliares fueron menos restrictivas (p<0.05), más benévolas (p<0.001) y menos pesimista (p<0.05) en comparación con las enfermeras con mayor educación (enfermeras parteras generales y licenciadas en ciencias de la enfermería). Conclusión. El presente estudio mostró un conocimiento adecuado sobre las enfermedades mentales entre las enfermeras. Sin embargo, tienen actitudes estigmatizantes y negativas hacia la enfermedad mental. Por lo tanto, es una prioridad implementar programas educativos para la adquisición de actitudes positivas hacia las personas con enfermedades mentales con el fin de brindar una atención integral a esta población vulnerable.

Objetivo. Avaliar os conhecimentos e percepções à doença mental das enfermeiras de atenção primária. Métodos. Se realizou um estudo descritivo transversal com 126 enfermeiras que trabalham no programa de Saúde Mental do Distrito em Karnataka (Índia). Os dados foram recolhidos a través de questionários respondidos por autorreporte, empregando a versão modificada do questionário Percepção pública da doença mental e a Escala de Atitudes à doença mental. Resultados. As descobertas revelaram que a maioria dos participantes eram mulheres (74.4%), hindus (92.1%) e de origem rural (69.8%). A pontuação média de conhecimento foi de 10.8±1.6 indicando conhecimento adequado (máximo possível = 12). 52% dos participantes têm atitudes negativas às pessoas com doenças mentais, sendo maior esta porcentagem nos domínios 'Estereótipos' (73%), 'Benevolência' (54%), 'Separatismo' (53.5%), 'Predição pessimista' (53%); enquanto que têm atitudes positivas em 'Restrição' (88%) e 'Estigmas'(72%). As mulheres, em maior porcentagem que os homens, tiveram atitudes positivas às pessoas com doenças mentais nos domínios 'Estereótipos' (p<0.001), 'Restrição' (p<0.01), 'Benevolência' (p<0.001) e 'Predição pessimista' (p<0.05). Do mesmo modo, as enfermeiras parteiras auxiliares formam menos restritivas (p<0.05), mais benévolas (p<0.001) e menos pessimista (p<0.05) em comparação com as enfermeiras com maior educação (enfermeiras parteiras gerais e licenciadas em ciências da enfermagem). Conclusão. O presente estudo mostrou um conhecimento adequado sobre as doenças mentais entre as enfermeiras. Porém, tem atitudes de estigmas e negativas à doença mental. Por tanto, é uma prioridade implementar programas educativos para o melhoramento das atitudes positivas às pessoas com doenças mentais com o fim de brindar uma atenção integral a esta população vulnerável.