A cross sectional evaluation of attitude and knowledge of Indian nursing students towards electro convulsive therapy

Objective: Studies from American and European countries have explored the attitudes and knowledge of nurses and nursing students towards Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT). However, there is a limited literature on the attitude and knowledge of nursing students towards ECT from Asian and African countries. The current study aims at assessing the knowledge and attitude of Indian nursing students towards ECT. Method: The study was conducted at a nursing college attached to a tertiary care multi-specialty hospital. Knowledge and attitude of the nursing students were assessed using the questionnaire developed by Kinnair and Dawson. We included students from third year and final year of nursing training. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 17.0. Level of statistical significance was kept at p 0 .05 for all the tests. Result: A total of 47 nursing students (25 third year and 22 final year) were approached for participation in the study. Final year nursing students had a significantly higher score on the indication and procedure domains of the ECT knowledge questionnaire. Third year students had a significantly higher score on the adverse effect domain of the questionnaire. Conclusion: Te findings of the current study highlight the need for modifications to the existing nursing training curriculum. There is need to address the issues related mental health including interventions for mental disorders. These changes would help improve the knowledge as well as attitude of nursing students towards ECT.