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Antidepressants: knowledge and use among nursing students.
Plínio Tadeu Istilli1, Adriana Inocenti Miasso, Cláudia Maria Padovan
1Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil. pstilli@hotmail.com
Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem
|August 20, 2010
Summary
Nursing students demonstrated persistent doubts about antidepressant medication use, even after physician instruction. Enhancing knowledge on antidepressant therapy is crucial for safe patient care.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Nursing Education
- Mental Health
Background:
- Antidepressant medications are vital for managing mental health conditions.
- Effective patient education on antidepressant use is essential for treatment adherence and safety.
- Gaps in nursing student knowledge can impact the quality of antidepressant therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess nursing students' knowledge regarding antidepressant medication.
- To identify areas for improvement in nursing education on antidepressants.
- To propose strategies for enhancing nurses' role in safe antidepressant therapy.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, descriptive study design was employed.
- Data were collected from 273 nursing students in São Paulo, Brazil.
- Knowledge assessment focused on antidepressant use, side effects, and therapeutic effects.
Main Results:
- 19% of students reported current or past use of antidepressants.
- Fluoxetine was the most commonly used antidepressant among participants.
- A significant majority of student users retained doubts about antidepressant use post-instruction.
Conclusions:
- Current instruction methods are insufficient to fully address nursing students' knowledge gaps on antidepressants.
- Targeted educational interventions are necessary to improve understanding of antidepressant mechanisms, effects, and safe administration.
- Nurses require enhanced knowledge to effectively support patients undergoing antidepressant treatment.
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