Attitudes of nurses towards patients who self-harm

Abstract

Suicidal patients admitted to hospital, following a suicidal attempt or expressing suicidal ideation pose a real challenge to health professionals. In addition, self-harm patients are often dissatisfied with care provided and health professionals feel ambivalent, helpless or frustrated when working with patients who self-harm. Such reactions may adversely influence treatment outcome. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the attitudes of Maltese nurses working in the local psychiatric setting towards self-harm patients. Also, this study attempted to find if age, gender, years of experience, level of qualification, training courses and patient characteristics influenced their attitudes. In this study, questionnaires concerning attitudes of staff towards deliberate self-harm, were distributed to 20 nurses working in acute in-patient psychiatric wards. All questionnaires were completed and returned. In contrast to previous studies, where unfavourable attitudes have been reported, Maltese nurses were positive about this client group. However, attitudes seem to be influenced by gender, age, years of experience, training courses and patient characteristics, while level of qualification did not influence their attitudes as such. This study also, identifies an expression of need for further education, so as to address negative attitudes, and hence the need to enhance a more effective delivery of care for self-harm patients.