Nurses' attitudes towards patients hospitalised for self-harm

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nursing Practice
• Mental Health

Background:

• Self-harm is a significant public health issue with increasing incidence, particularly in young people.
• Patients presenting with self-harm often face negative attitudes from healthcare staff, impacting care quality.
• Nurses in emergency and acute settings may lack specialized mental health training to care for these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review factors influencing nurses' attitudes towards patients hospitalized for self-harm.
• To identify educational and training needs for nurses caring for self-harm patients.
• To recommend improvements in nursing practice for effective self-harm patient care.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of factors affecting nurses' attitudes.
• Analysis of existing research on self-harm patient care in acute settings.
• Identification of gaps in mental health training for nurses.

Main Results:

• Negative attitudes from healthcare staff can deter self-harm patients from seeking care.
• Inadequate mental health training affects nurses' confidence and competence in managing self-harm.
• There is a need for specialized education on self-harm and mental health for nurses.

Conclusions:

• Improving nurses' attitudes requires enhanced mental health education and training.
• Effective care for self-harm patients necessitates a supportive and informed nursing approach.
• Addressing negative attitudes and improving training are crucial for ethical and quality nursing practice.