Effects of an education training program on attitudes to electroconvulsive therapy

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Medical Education
• Mental Health Treatment

Background:

• Negative public and professional attitudes toward electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are prevalent.
• Clinical experience and knowledge are linked to improved attitudes toward ECT.
• Understanding factors influencing ECT perception is crucial for mental healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) education training program on participants' attitudes.
• To evaluate attitude changes in student nurses and care aid students exposed to ECT education.

Main Methods:

• A 6-week psychiatry rotation in British Columbia, Canada, included 73 student nurses and 21 care aid students.
• The ECT education program comprised a lecture, video, equipment familiarization, and treatment observation.
• Participants completed pre- and post-training questionnaires to measure attitude shifts.

Main Results:

• Before training, only 8.5% of participants felt well-informed about ECT.
• Attitudes toward ECT showed a favorable shift after the education program.
• No substantial pre-training attitude differences were noted between student nurses and care aid students.

Conclusions:

• ECT education and training positively influence attitudes toward electroconvulsive therapy.
• Providing knowledge and experience can mitigate negative perceptions of ECT.
• Healthcare professional training programs should incorporate ECT education to foster more informed views.