Attitude of nursing students towards psychiatry as an area of specialization

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of competent mental health professionals, including psychiatric nurses, in most developing countries  such as Nigeria. The origins of this problem appear to be multi-factorial, but inadequate exposure to psychiatry, during the course of  basic nursing training may be contributory to the apathy towards the specialty of psychiatry.

Objectives: To examine the attitudes of nursing students to psychiatry and their intention to pursue psychiatry as a career after their  basic training.

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a convenience sample of 100 final year nursing students who  were undergoing their clinical posting in psychiatry. A modified version of the 30-item Attitudes to Psychiatry (ATP30) Questionnaire and a Socio-demographic Questionnaire were utilized.

Results: The students had a mean ATP-30 score of 101.7 (s.d = 9.2, range = 77- 124). There was no gender difference in scores (102.9 vs.  100.4, X² =21.95, p = 0.639), but a significant association was found between the age group 21-25 years and general knowledge of  psychiatry (X² = 40.2, p = 0.012). Psychiatric nursing was ranked fourth on the basis of expressed ‘definite intention’ about choice of  future career specialization.

Conclusion: The findings from this study confirm the unpopularity of  psychiatric nursing as a future area of specialization among  students of basic nursing. There is the need for concerted and systematic efforts to ensure adequate exposure to psychiatry during the  basic training. It is hoped that this will result in better appreciation and interest in the specialty as a consideration for subsequent    specialization.