Misconceptions about traumatic brain injury among nursing students in India: implications for nursing care and curriculum.

BACKGROUND: Despite the devastating consequences of Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), TBI misconceptions are common among healthcare professionals. As an essential member of multi-professional team providing TBI care, it is important that nurses have correct information and adequate skills to achieve the best possible outcomes for TBI. For example, some common misconceptions about TBIs are that a second blow to the head can improve memory functioning and wearing seatbelts can cause as many brain injuries as it prevents. In India, perhaps such misconceptions towards TBI among nursing professionals were not yet documented. As nursing students form the future health workforce, understanding TBI misconceptions among nursing students in resource-limited settings like India will provide useful information for strengthening the nursing curricula for improved care and rehabilitation of TBIs. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional survey to study the TBI misconceptions among nursing students in India. A Common Misconceptions about Traumatic Brain Injury (CM-TBI) questionnaire was administered to 154 nursing students from a nursing college of a tertiary care neuro-centre in India. The mean percentage of misconceptions were calculated for 7-domains of CM-TBI. T-test for independent samples and ANOVA were used to study the association of misconception with socio-demographic variables using total score for each respondent. RESULTS: Of the 143 nursing students who completed the survey, majority of them were female (97%) and in the 19-20 year age-group (95.1%). Domain on brain damage (81.1%) had highest rate, while amnesia domain (42.0%) had lowest rate of misconception. The overall mean-score was 22.73 (Standard Deviation: 4.69) which was significantly higher than the median score of 19.5. The study did not show significant differences on overall misconceptions about TBI for any of the socio-demographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Misconceptions about TBIs were common among nursing students and it was pervasive irrespective of age, gender, place of residence and year of education. A need to strengthen nursing curriculum in the area of TBIs has been emphasized for improved care and management of TBIs. The study findings also suggest the need for understanding such misconceptions among other healthcare professionals involved in TBI care.

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.