Blanc JV, Mouchabac S, Nuss P, Malandain L, Lapidus N, Ferreri F. The effects of education in psychiatry on attitudes towards antidepressants in nursing students: A cross-sectional study.
Nurse Educ Pract 2020;
45:102781. [PMID:
32330849 DOI:
10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102781]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Stigma associated with depression and antidepressants is strong among the general population but also among patients and health professionals.
OBJECTIVES
This cross-sectional study is aimed at: 1) evaluating the knowledge and attitude towards antidepressant by nursing student; 2) exploring the association between instruction in psychiatry and representation of depression and antidepressants.
PARTICIPANTS
2037 undergraduate students from 10 French nursing schools were invited to participate in 2017, 1475 (73%) completed the questionnaire.
METHODS
The self-report questionnaire included the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) and questions about representation on depression and antidepressant. Four groups of students were built: 1) pre-teaching group (PT) as a reference group, 2) clinical training in psychiatry (CT), 3) receiving mental health theoretical education (TE), 4) receiving both (CT + TE).
RESULTS
The mean (standard deviation) DAI score was negative: -1.9 (±4.4) with only 40% of the nursing students conveying a positive attitude towards antidepressant. A combination of CT and TE was associated with a more positive attitude towards antidepressant in comparison with the PT condition. The CT + TE group was more prone to view antidepressants as effective and safe.
CONCLUSION
There is strong stigma against depression/antidepressants among nursing student. Education combined with clinical experiences in psychiatry improved these representations.
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