Knowledge and Attitudes of Anaesthetic Resident Doctors, Anaesthetic Nurses and Psychiatric Nurses towards Electroconvulsive Therapy

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.