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Published on: March 8, 2018
Coverage of dissociation and related concepts in psychiatric-mental health nursing textbooks
Briana L Snyder1, Caroline C Cooney2, M Shae Nester3
1Department of Nursing, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252, USA.
Purpose:
Nurses and nurse educators perceive a lack of knowledge, education, training, and educational materials related to dissociative disorders (DDs) and dissociative symptoms. Additionally, nurses and nurse educators report bias around the teaching of these concepts. Previous research on undergraduate psychopathology textbooks indicated insufficient and inaccurate coverage of dissociation and related concepts, but no such studies had been conducted within the profession of nursing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the presentation of DDs, dissociation, and related symptoms in psychiatric-mental health (PMH) nursing textbooks.
Method:
Qualitative content analysis was used to evaluate the coverage of DDs, dissociation, and related concepts in eight popular PMH nursing textbooks.
Results:
Following qualitative content analysis of the eight PMH nursing textbooks, four categories were generated: (1) Dissociation and DDs have many risk factors, but nurses should examine these phenomena through a trauma-informed lens; (2) What nurses can expect: Assessment findings for individuals who dissociate; (3) Ongoing controversy and stigma exist related to the diagnosis and treatment of dissociation, DDs, and related symptoms; and (4) Evidence-based nursing interventions are effective in the prevention and treatment of dissociation, DDs, and management of related symptoms.
Conclusions:
With the exception of one PMH nursing textbook that was reviewed, coverage of dissociation and related concepts was generally adequate, evidence-based, and in some cases, quite extensive and robust. Supported by the accurate, comprehensive coverage of dissociation, DDs, and related concepts in PMH nursing textbooks, nurse educators should routinely incorporate this content into their PMH nursing courses.
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