Student nurses' attitudes to psychiatry: the influence of training and personality

Abstract

Fifty-one second-year students completed the Attitudes to Treatment Questionnaire (ATQ), the Conservatism Scale (CS), the Defence Style Questionnaire (DSQ) and an open-ended questionnaire before and after components of their psychiatric training programme, which included a 1-week placement in a psychiatric hospital. CS scores indicated that the nurses were moderately conservative. ATQ scores and CS scores correlated significantly, with the more conservative nurses reporting more traditional attitudes to psychiatric nursing. ATQ scores fell significantly after psychiatric hospital placement, indicating more progressive attitudes. Mean scores on the DSQ were within normal limits, although men scored significantly higher than women on the Immature Defences Scale immediately after placement. The open-ended questionnaire revealed mainly positive comments about the psychiatric hospital placement. Almost half the nurses expressed surprise at the relaxed, informal atmosphere on the wards, and as many stated that personal interaction with the patients rapidly removed any stereotyped attitudes that they held previously. Over 40% of nurses stated that the patients were much less aggressive or dangerous than they had expected, although nearly 20% said they were concerned about the levels of aggression that they observed.

The effect of first year mental health fieldwork on attitudes of occupational therapy students towards people with mental illness

“…The only study that is not consistent with this trend is the study by Procter & Hafner (1991) of second year nurses. One notable difference between this study and those reported by Penny et al (2001) and McLaughlin (1997) was the inclusion of tutorial sessions for students.…”

Stigma and Mental Illness: Investigating Attitudes of Mental Health and Non‐Mental‐Health Professionals and Trainees

“…Earlier research showed conflicting results about factors that might assist with attitudes of mental health professionals toward adult with mental illness, including contact and experience (Procter & Hafner, 1991;Wallach, 2004) and education and training (Bairan & Farnsworth, 1989;Penny et al, 2001). The main effect for status, along with the lack of a main effect for professional level and the lack of an interaction effect between professional level and status, suggested that experience might not play as important a role as education and training.…”

“…There is little consensus regarding what might assist with lessening stigmatizing attitudes toward adults with mental illness. Scholars have implied that numerous factors might decrease stigma and negative attitudes, including contact and experience with the population and setting (Procter & Hafner, 1991;Wallach, 2004) and education and knowledge regarding the field of mental health (Bairan & Farnsworth, 1989;Penny, Kasar, & Sinay, 2001). Primarily, however, researchers have examined professionals in the medical, occupational therapy, and case management fields (Bairan & Farnsworth, 1989;J.…”

“…Primarily, however, researchers have examined professionals in the medical, occupational therapy, and case management fields (Bairan & Farnsworth, 1989;J. Cohen & Struening, 1962;Murray & Steffen, 1999;Penny et al, 2001;Procter & Hafner, 1991) to explore the topic of stigma and the mental health professional.…”

Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Mental Health Nursing and Consumers: Psychometric Properties of a Self-Report Scale

“…An understanding of the reasons underlying this unpopularity is of utmost importance to the development of effective strategies to overcome nursing shortfalls in this specialty area. Inadequate course content relevant to mental health nursing and unconstructive or offputting clinical placement experiences are thought to contribute to students' ambivalent and/or negative attitudes toward both mental health nursing and consumers of mental health services (Arnold, Deans, & Munday, 2004;Arnswald, 1987;Bell, Horsfall, & Goodin, 1998;Caroselli-Karinja et al, 1988;Clinton & Hazelton, 2000a;Hafner & Proctor, 1993;Happell, 2000Happell, , 2001Martin & Happell, 2001;Mullen & Murray, 2002;Proctor & Hafner, 1991). However, clear evidence to support these beliefs is lacking.…”