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Mental health professionals’ attitudes toward and knowledge about electroconvulsive therapy at Weskoppies Hospital, South Africa
Author(s) -
Netshilema Tshisikhawe Comfort,
Khamker Nadira,
Sokudela Funeka
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
perspectives in psychiatric care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1744-6163
pISSN - 0031-5990
DOI - 10.1111/ppc.12330
Subject(s) - electroconvulsive therapy , mental health , medicine , psychiatry , psychology , clinical psychology , family medicine , schizophrenia (object oriented programming)
Purpose To investigate the attitudes toward and knowledge of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among mental health practitioners. Design and Methods One hundred and eighty‐three participants from five groups of mental health practitioners were included. Anonymous questionnaires were used. Findings Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0. Most of the questionnaires were completed by nurses ( N = 142; 77.5%). Mean positive attitude scores were statistically different between the five groups, F (4, 178) = 2.63, P = 0.036). Mean knowledge scores between the five groups were statistically significant, H (4) = 30.0, P < 0.0001. Greater knowledge about ECT was associated with more positive attitude toward ECT, r (183) = 0.290, P = 0.01. Practice Implications ECT educational programs need to be provided to all mental health practitioners and the resulting effects on knowledge and attitudes studied.