Knowledge and treatment attitudes of modified electroconvulsive therapy among mental disorder patients′ family members

Abstract

Objective To investigate the knowledge and treatment attitudes toward modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) among family members of mental disorder sufferers, and to provide reference for the related health education. Methods A total of 205 family members of psychiatric inpatients in our hospital, who received MECT, were investigated by a self-designed questionnaire which was based on literature surveys, experts consultation and clinical experiences. Results The results showed a varying lack of knowledge about MECT for those family members. The awareness rates of the five dimensions surveyed were: treatment procedure (62.4%), informed consent (98.5%), applicable indications (32.7%), functional mechanism (68.3%) and side effects (92.7%); there was a significant positive relation between education level and knowledge awareness rate. 56.1% of the family members took positive attitude toward MECT, but 8.8% thought negatively, and 35.1% lied between. Conclusions The knowledge about MECT is generally lacking among the family members, this would impact its treatment attitudes. In such case, enhancing MECT knowledge education is recommend to boost the treatment confidence and to increase the compliance. Key words: Modified electroconvulsive therapy, improvement; Family member; Knowledge; Treatment attitude