An exploration of student nurses' views towards mentally ill patients

Abstract

Mental health problems are becoming one of the most common problems throughout the world. Nursing students would become the new generation, future nurses. Mental health literacy would help nourishing, developing and moulding nursing students views and attitudes towards people suffering from mental health problems. The literacy level of student nurses, according to Crisp, Gelder, Goddaed & Meltzer (2005), reflects the views on stigma of the general public of people with mental health problems. The aim of the study was to explore student nurses views towards mentally ill patients, at a Maltese nursing institution; this was the first time that such a study was carried out in Malta. By using a descriptive cross-sectional research design, a self-administered questionnaire was administered. A convenience sample of 33 nursing students who were still undergoing the mental health study unit and 19 nursing students who completed the entire mental health study unit was chosen for this study. Giving a 100% response rate, quantitative and qualitative methods were used. When analysing the 5-point Likert scale every question was analysed and results were interpreted according to the participants' responses. On the other hand for the open ended questions (qualitative method) thematic analysis was used for data interpretation. Results showed that education and experience for both groups were the factors affecting a change in views and attitudes. Both group respondents argue that the mental health study unit helped them to understand better how to deal with patients with mental health problems. This was also strengthening because of direct contact with mentally ill patients; this was supported by other studies. Results showed that student nurses changed their stereotyped views as a result of the mental health study unit. Findings indicated that student nurses were against social restrictions, possibly due to limitations in psychiatric community care. A scheme of mental health education together with exposure, targeted to specific groups should be developed. Such education and exposure should be explored to make sure v effective change in views within the specific groups occurs. More mentors in the clinical mental health area should be an asset to nursing students. In addition it is also recommended to have continuous professional development courses for nurses with the existent professional development nurse involved in such programmes. The Maltese University institution together with the mental health hospital should liaise more to improve quality and service. The inability to generalise results of this study indicates the need for other research to be carried out on this subject. The researcher recommends an improved research tool with validity and reliability of the tool. Also a longitudinal study of student nurses through the entire nursing course, comparing the process that students go throughout should be carried out. In addition, noticing the change in views towards people with mental health problems, students should be followed through after graduation. This would identify the nature and stability of attitude change.