Attitudes of Turkish Nurses Towards Schizophrenic Patients
Özden Arısoy, Altan Eşsizoğlu
Article No: 2   Article Type :  Research
Objective: In this study, it is aimed to determine and compare mental health nurses' and general hospital nur-ses' beliefs and knowledge about the etiology and treatment of schizophrenia and attitudes towards schizophrenic patients.

Method: 70 nurses working in a mental health hospital and 30 nurses working in a general hospital were interviewed face to face with a questionnaire developed by Psyciatric Research and Education Center in Turkey.

Results: The mean age and the mean working year was higher in the mental health nurse group. Both groups were nonsatisfied with their job but, the difference was more marked in the mental health nurse group. Both groups think schizophrenia as a disorder but, the general hospital nurse group consider schizophrenia less as a mental disorder and thinks that stressful lıfe events commonly cause schizophrenia. Both groups consider schizophrenia as a treatable illness but, the mental health nurse group is convinced that schizophrenia cannot be completely cured. In contrast general hospital nurse group believe that schizophrenia will improve if social problems are resolved. The mental health nurse group hold the opinion that people with schizophrenia are dangerous and they put more social distance towards schizophrenic patients than the general hospital group.

Conclusion: The mental health nurse group appeared to have more knowledge about the etiology and treatment of schizophrenia but, they tended to put more social distance towards schizophrenic patients than the general hospital nurse group. This may indicate a need for an educational programme considering attitudes for the mental health nurse group and a theoretical educational programmme for the general hospital nurse group.
Keywords : Schizophrenia, attitudes, nurses
Dusunen Adam : The Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences : 2004;17:146-153
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Düşünen Adam - Psikiyatri ve Nörolojik Bilimler Dergisi
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