Knowledge and Attitudes of Anaesthetic Resident Doctors, Anaesthetic Nurses and Psychiatric Nurses towards Electroconvulsive Therapy
Monday N. Igwe *
Department of Psychological Medicine, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
Emmanuel O. Olose
Department of Psychiatry, University of Calabar Cross River State, Nigeria
Afamefuna O. Okeke
Department of Psychological Medicine, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
Miriam C. Aguocha
Department of Internal Medicine, Imo State University Owerri, Nigeria
Okwudili Obayi
Department of Psychological Medicine, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
Appolos C. Ndukuba
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Nigeria
Richard Ewah
Department of Anaesthesia, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
Kehinde O. Bankole
Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Calabar, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: This study assessed the level of knowledge and attitudes of resident anaesthetic doctors, anaesthetic nurses and psychiatric nurses working at a teaching hospital in southeast Nigeria towards electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 102 participants. A socio-demographic questionnaire and modified Questionnaire on attitude and knowledge of electroconvulsive therapy (QuAKE) were administered to all consenting anaesthetic resident doctors, anaesthetic nurses and psychiatric nurses working at a tertiary hospital in southeast Nigeria.
Results: Total mean scores on the QuAKE by the participants were 7.15 ± 2.25 for the anaesthetic resident doctors, 5.18 ± 2.33 for the anaesthetic nurses and 6.78 ± 2.63 for the psychiatric nurses out of a possible maximum score of 16. Observation of ECT and length of work experience had no significant effect on QuAKE scores among the three professionals tested.
Conclusion: Total mean scores on the QuAKE by resident anaesthetic doctors, anaesthetic nurses and psychiatric nurses were poor. There is a need to incorporate lectures with practical demonstrations on ECT into the training and continuing medical education of these 3 professionals.
Keywords: Knowledge, attitudes, electroconvulsive therapy