Mental health nurses’ caring efficacy towards consumers with dual diagnosis: A descriptive study

Abstract

IntroductionDual diagnosis is a common and complex problem in mental health settings. This study aimed to assess mental health nurses’ caring efficacy towards consumers with dual diagnosis in Australian mental health settings. The research question was: What is the caring efficacy of mental health nurses towards consumers with coexisting mental health and drug and alcohol problems? Materials and methodsEighty-four mental health nurses specialising in caring for consumers with dual diagnosis were recruited using convenience sampling from multiple mental health facilities. The Caring Efficacy Scale assessed mental health nurses’ caring efficacy. Descriptive data and multiple-regression analyses were conducted using SPSS© Version: 28.0.1.0 (142) (IBM Corp. 2021). ResultsThe mean caring efficacy score was 145.70, with a standard deviation of 19.92. Caring efficacy values varied from 92 to 178. Mental health nurses’ age, position, clinical settings, and work experience were associated with their caring efficacy. Work experience, experience in current job, caring efficacy, confidence to care, and doubts and concerns correlated with each other (all r > .24, p ≤ .001). The predictors' confidence to care (β = 1.06, p < .001) and doubts and concerns (β = 58.63, p < .001) explained mental health nurses’ caring efficacy. The predictors' age (β = 8.96, p = .033) and self-doubt (β = .39, p = .001) explained mental health nurses’ confidence to care. The predictors' age (β = 10.11, p = .032) and professional experience (β = 8.82, p = .042) explained mental health nurses’ doubts and concerns. ConclusionsMental health nurses’ caring efficacy towards consumers with dual diagnosis was above average. The confidence and concerns of mental health nurses play a role in their ability to provide adequate care. Further interventional research is needed to explore how mental health nurses’ age, clinical experience, and self-efficacy impact their ability to care for consumers with dual diagnosis. The findings may be helpful for further health-related studies of mental health nurses’ caring efficacy and for making therapeutic decisions regarding consumer care.