The relationship between nurse characteristics and perceptions of psychotropic medications in residential facilities for the retarded

Abstract

A total of 227 nurses were surveyed regarding their attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge about the use of psychotropic drugs. In general, greater age, male sex, status, and higher qualifications tended to covary and were associated with perception of greater involvement by senior nurses in drug-related decisions, more satisfaction with the level of in-service training, awareness of certain side effects, perception of interdisciplinary decision making as a clinical reality, and the view that psychologists were not influential in medication-related decisions. Those without these characteristics (e.g., females, younger nurses) more often advocated greater use of medical and laboratory tests, ongoing training, and alternatives to drugs. Nurses working in nonambulatory units more often saw senior nursing staff as influential in decisions to stop drug treatment and more often recommended that alternatives to pharmacology be employed. Some tentative conclusions about the dynamics surrounding medication use in these facilities were offered to account for these patterns.

Knowledge and expectations of direct support professionals towards effects of psychotropic drug use in people with intellectual disabilities

“…Moreover, 60% of support professionals indicated that they are in need for education and training in this area. Our results confirm results of other studies in this area, which also revealed that professionals are in need for education in effects of psychopharmaceutical treatments (Aman et al., ; Christian et al., ; Donley et al., ; Singh et al., ) and lack knowledge regarding side effects of psychotropic drugs (Fretwell & Felce, ).…”

“…Indeed, studies have shown the influence of attitudes and cognition of support professionals and staff on behaviour and psychotropic drug use of their service users with intellectual disabilities (Aman, Singh, & Fitzpatrick, ; Christian, Snycerski, Singh, & Poling, ; Singh et al., ). Professionals indicated aggression, anxiety, self‐injury, delusions and other psychiatric disorders in people with intellectual disabilities were mostly indications for psychotropic drug use and that behaviour modification could be an alternative for medication use.…”

Effects of controlled discontinuation of long‐term used antipsychotics for behavioural symptoms in individuals with intellectual disability

“…Also, other studies have shown the influence of caregivers and staff on behaviour and on psychotropic drug use in patients with IDs (Aman et al . ; Singh et al . ; Christian et al .…”

A comparison of challenging behaviour in an adult group with Down's syndrome and dementia compared with an adult Down's syndrome group without dementia

“…The checklist was developed from problem behaviours known to occur with some frequency in moderate to severe learning disabled individuals (lethargy, hyperactivity, inappropriate speech, irritability and stereotypy). Further research has shown the ABC to be a reliable and valid measure of challenging behaviour (Aman et al. 1987; Newton & Sturmey 1988).…”