Nurses’ Attitudes Toward People with Mental Illnesses in a Psychiatric Hospital in Singapore

Abstract

<p>A positive attitude toward people with mental illnesses is a necessary dimension of psychiatric nursing practice. Although studies have been conducted in Israel and Australia to examine the attitudes of nurses toward people with mental illnesses, no such study had been conducted in Singapore. This study explored the factors influencing nurses’ attitudes toward and their involvement in caring for people with mental illnesses, and sought to establish the relevance and effects of mental health training on enhancing the nurses’ positive attitudes.</p><p>The study used a descriptive, self-administered questionnaire, which contained 24 statements scored on a Likert scale. Factors related to attitudes toward people with mental illnesses included age, professional qualification, years of psychiatric nursing experience, type of ward, and designation (i.e., position within the institution). The questionnaires were given to all of the local nurses working in a psychiatric hospital in Singapore, and 96% returned the questionnaires.</p><p>Results showed that nurses with any of the following characteristics had a more positive attitude: age group of 31 to 50; professional qualification of advanced diploma in mental health nursing, nursing degree, or post-basic certificate; or more than 10 years of psychiatric nursing experience. In addition, nursing officers had a more positive attitude than staff nurses or assistant nurses, and nurses working in the short-stay wards had more positive attitudes than those working in the long-stay wards.</p><div class="ftAuthorNotes"><p>Ms. Tay is Nurse Clinician, Ms. Pariyasami is Nurse Educator, Ms. Ravindran is Nursing Officer, and Ms. Ali and Ms. Rowsudeen were members of the Nursing Department, Institute of Mental Health, Woodbridge Hospital, Singapore.</p><p>The authors wish to acknowledge the following professionals for their support and guidance: Ms. Mary Yeo Kim Luang, Ms. Yeo Soo Gim, Associate Professor Chong Siow Ann, Ms. Mythily Subramaniam, Mr. Michael Wee, Ms. Tan Lay Wu, and Ms. Thavamani Ammavasi. They also thank all of the nursing staff of Woodbridge Hospital for completing the survey forms.</p><p>Address correspondence to Sim-Eng Clara Tay, RN, RMN, BHSc, Grad. Dip. Psychotherapy, Nurse Clinician, Nursing Department (Ward 33A), Institute of Mental Health, Woodbridge Hospital, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore 539747; e-mail: sim_eng_tay@imh.com.sg.</p></div>