The effectiveness of self-instructional module on knowledge and attitude regarding mental illness and its early identification among female junior health assistants in selected primary health centers at Hassan

Abstract

Background: Development of Nation depends upon the healthy society and the health of the each individual, is in the hands of the health care professionals. Mental health is a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment. Mental illness is a wide range of mental health condition that can affect our mood, thinking and behavior. The aim of the study is to assess the existing knowledge and attitude to evaluate the effectiveness of Self-instructional module, to find the correlation between knowledge and attitude, to find the association between pre-test knowledge and attitude scores and their selected socio demographic variables.Methods: A quantitative evaluative research approach was used for the study. The purposive sampling technique was used. A structured knowledge questionnaire and structured attitude scale were used to assess the knowledge and attitude and Self-instructional module was provided to find its effectiveness.Results: The mean percentage of post-test knowledge score (85.2%) was higher than the mean percentage of pre-test knowledge score (38.4%). The calculated ‘t’ value showed a significant difference between mean pre and post test knowledge scores. Calculated χ2 values are showed significant association between qualification, religion, type of family and place of working of respondents with their pre-test knowledge scores. The mean percentage of post test attitude scores (86.4%) was higher than the mean percentage of pre-test attitude score (53.0%). The calculated‘t’ value showed a significant difference between mean pre and post test attitude scores. Calculated χ2 values are showed significant association between marital status, qualification, religion, type of family, place of working and monthly salary of respondents with their pre-test attitude scores.Conclusion: The results indicated that the self instructional module is effective in increasing the knowledge and attitude of female junior health assistants on mental illness and its early identification.