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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2018 | Volume
: 15
| Issue : 2 | Page : 24-26 |
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Knowledge of care givers of mentally ill patients on psychotropic drugs and various therapies in selected hospitals with a view to develop self instructional module
V Usha Rani1, M Benedict Shyla Heema2, K Kiranmayi3
1 College of Nursing, AFMC, Pune, India
2 Army Base Hospital, NewDelhi, India
3 KKS College of Nursing, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India
| Date of Web Publication | 9-Jul-2019 |
Correspondence Address:
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/2231-1505.262446
Caregiver plays an important role to provide care for mentally ill patients. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge of care-givers of mentally ill clients on selected therapies at Asha hospital, Hyderabad with a view to develop self instructional module. Descriptive research design was used for the study. A total of 100 subjects were selected using convenient sampling technique method. Socio demographic data and questionnaire method was used to collect the information for period of one week. Results: showed that the most (95%) care-givers had overall knowledge about conventional and alternative therapies. The results also revealed majority 84% care-givers had average and above average knowledge about conventional therapies and 93% care-givers had average and above average knowledge regarding alternative therapies. Hence the researcher felt that overall 5% of care-givers need health education with regard to conventional and alternative therapies and 16% regarding conventional therapies and 7% regarding alternative therapies.
Keywords: Care-givers, Mentally ill, Knowledge, Self Instructional Module
How to cite this article:
Rani V U, Shyla Heema M B, Kiranmayi K. Knowledge of care givers of mentally ill patients on psychotropic drugs and various therapies in selected hospitals with a view to develop self instructional module. Indian J Psy Nsg 2018;15:24-6 |
How to cite this URL:
Rani V U, Shyla Heema M B, Kiranmayi K. Knowledge of care givers of mentally ill patients on psychotropic drugs and various therapies in selected hospitals with a view to develop self instructional module. Indian J Psy Nsg [serial online] 2018 [cited 2023 Mar 29];15:24-6. Available from: https://www.ijpn.in/text.asp?2018/15/2/24/262446 |
| Introduction | |  |
According to World Health Organization, the incidences of mental illness worldwide are 450 people. The global burden of mental disorders is expected to increase to 2.4% by the year 2020 in most of the countries.[1] After WHO chose theme for the World Health Day, in 2001 as “Mental health: Stop exclusion- Dare to Care” due to which so many therapies such as biological, psycho-somatic and psycho-social therapies became more in use. In modern days, psychotropic drugs, ECT, Aversion therapy, Yoga and Relaxation therapy are also used as adjunct therapies to treat mental illnesses. [2],[3] Psychopharmacological preparations widely used have primary effect on the behaviour or other psychological functions of the individual.[4] Not only conventional therapies but also the alternative therapies can be used to treat psychiatric illnesses as adjunct with conventional therapies. The alternative therapies are such as Yoga and Relaxation therapies thought to have developed in India, some 5000 years ago and is attributed to an Indian physician and Sanskrit scholar named Patanjali. Yoga is helpful in relieving stress and in improving overall physical and psychological wellness. Relaxation therapy is an effective means of reducing the stress response in some individuals.
Some studies revealed that combination of conventional and alternative therapies were more effective to treat mental illness. Since the clients and caregivers do not have enough knowledge with regard to conventional and alternative therapies and their effects, prevention of complications, and side effects like Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, photosensitivity, cardiac and urinary problems etc., the clients are anxious about the situation of their illness.
There is an urgent need to inform caregivers and the patients with mental illnesses about therapies like conventional and alternative therapies, their importance, actions and side effects. As nurses we have the responsibility to educate the clients and care-givers regarding the importance of selected therapies that are used to treat mental disorders.
| Materials And Methods | | |
The present study was conducted at Asha hospital in and out patient unit which is psychiatric specialized unit at Hyderabad[5]. Descriptive research was adopted for the study[6] on a total of 100 subjects enrolled by convenient sampling technique. Informed consent was obtained after explaining the details of study. Besides socio demographic data sheet a structured questionnaire of consists of 30 items to check the knowledge of care-givers of mentally ill persons regarding selected therapie alternative therapies. Care-givers knowledge was measured depending on the scores allotted to each item on selected therapies structured questionnaire. Each item in the questionnaire can be scored as one. The maximum score for was 30 and minimum score was zero. Tool was validated and piloted before the study. The data was analyzed, using descriptive and inferential statistics.
| Results | | |
A total of 100 subjects were enrolled in the study.
Demographic data of the care-givers of mentally ill clients i.e. in the sample 11 (11%) were in the age group of below 25 years, 21 (21%) of care-givers were among the age group of 26-30 years, 18 (18%) of care-givers were in the age group of 31-35 years and majority 50 (50%) were in the age group of above 35 Years. With regard to sex, 37 (37%) were females and 63 (63%) were males. With regard to Education 39 (39%) had done graduation, 23 (23%) had done intermediate, 20 (20%) had done post graduation and only 3 (3%) were Illiterates, primary education & others. With regard to religion 80 (80%) belongs to Hindu religion, 11 (11%) belongs to Christian, 7 (7%) belongs to Muslim and only 2 (2%) were from other religions and marital status of the care-givers of the mentally ill clients 77 (77%) were Married, 20 (20%) were unmarried and only 1 (1%) of them were separated, divorced and widowed. With regard to type of family 60 (60%) belongs to nuclear family, 34 (34%) were belongs to joint family and only 3 (3%) belonged to extended family and other families. With regard to occupation 40 (40%) of family members were private employees, 23 (23%) were government employees, 22 (22%) were business men and only 15 (15%) were daily wage workers. With regard to monthly income 42 (42%) were earning above Rs 15000, 23 (23%) were earning between Rs. 5001-10000, 18 (18%) were earning Rs. 10001-15000 and only 17 (17%) were earning below Rs 5000. With regard to area of residence 33 (33%) were from cities, 32 (32%) were urban areas, 18 (18%) were urban-rural areas and only 17 (17%) were from rural areas. With regard to the previous source of knowledge on care givers of mentally ill clients on selected therapies 32 (32%) were through friends and relatives, 25 (25%) were gained knowledge through mass media, 24 (24%) were gained knowledge through health personnel and only 19 (19%) were from family members.
As given in [Table 1] that the scores secured by care-givers ranged between 0-30 with class interval of 10, mean = 16.90 and S.D = 5.03. The scores ranging from 0-10 fall under below average knowledge of care-givers about care of mentally ill clients and was scored by 5 (5%) of the care-givers. The scores ranged between 10 -20 indicates average knowledge of care-givers about care of mentally ill clients and was scored by 71 (71%) care-givers and scores ranged between 20-30 indicated above average knowledge of care-givers about care of mentally ill clients and was scored by 24 (24%) care-givers. | Table 2: knowledge levels of care-givers of mentally ill clients on Conventional Therapies n = 100
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Knowledge score of care-givers on Conventional Therapies of mentally ill clients was 15 with a maximum score of 15 and least score 0.The scores secured by care-givers ranged between 0 – 15 with class interval of 5, mean = 6.80 and S.D = 3.00. The scores ranging from 0 – 5 fall under below average knowledge of care-givers regarding Conventional Therapies and was scored by 26 (26%) of the care-givers. The scores ranged between 5 – 10 indicates average knowledge of care-givers on Conventional Therapies and was scored by 62 (62%) care-givers and scores ranged between 10-15 indicated above average knowledge of care-givers regarding the knowledge on conventional therapies and was scored by 12 (12%) care-givers. | Table 3: Knowledge levels of care-givers of mentally ill clients on Alternative Therapies (n = 100)
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Knowledge score of care-givers of mentally ill clients on Alternative Therapies was 15 with a maximum score of 15 and least score 0.The scores secured by care-givers ranged between 0 – 15 with class interval of 5, mean = 9.40 and S.D = 4.01. The scores ranging from 0 – 5 fall under below average knowledge of care-givers regarding Alternative Therapies and was scored by 7% of the care-givers. The scores ranged between 5 – 10 indicates average knowledge of care-givers on Alternative Therapies and was scored by 48 (48%) care-givers and scores ranged between 10 – 15 indicated above average knowledge of care-givers regarding the knowledge on Alternative therapies and was scored by 45 (45%) care-givers.
| Discussion | | |
The present study was supported on ‘Efficacy of a psycho-educational intervention in improving relatives knowledge about schizophrenia’ and reducing re-hospitalization. The researcher concluded that relatives who were exposed to psycho-education classes regarding schizophrenia and their medication were helpful in reducing re-hospitalization of their affected clients.[7]
The study was supported on perceptions about Complementary Therapies relative to Conventional Therapies among care-givers of mentally ill clients who were using both therapies at Massachusetts. Care-givers of mentally ill clients who use both appear to value both and tend to be less concerned about their doctor’s disapproval than about their doctor’s inability to understand or incorporate CAM therapy use within the context of their management.[8]
The present study was aimed to assess the knowledge of care-givers of mentally ill clients on selected therapies at Asha hospital, Banjara hills, Hyderabad with a view to develop self-instructional module. The scores obtained by care-givers of mentally ill clients were analyzed and interpreted as care-givers knowledge regarding selected therapies. There was an average and above average knowledge regarding selected therapies scores. This study results reveal that majority 95% care-givers had overall knowledge about conventional and alternative therapies. The results also revealed majority 84% care-givers had average and above average knowledge about conventional therapies and 93 93% care-givers had average and above average knowledge regarding alternative therapies. Hence the researcher felt that overall 5% of care-givers need health education with regard to conventional and alternative therapies and 16% of care-givers need health education regarding conventional therapies and 7% of care-givers need health education regarding alternative therapies. Nursing intervention to promote care-givers knowledge regarding conventional and alternative therapies could be offered by providing self-instructional module to the care-givers of mentally ill clients.
| Conclusion | | |
The overall findings of this study showed increased knowledge of care-givers of mentally ill clients on selected therapies and those who are having less knowledge; self instructional module has given to improve their knowledge.
| References | | |
| 1. | C.Ewhrudjakpor. Incidence of psychiatric clients World-wide. International journal of Nursing 2007; 12 (4):178-186.  |
| 2. | Meisel J. knowledge and attitude of care-givers of Turkish schizophrenic patients. International Journal of Psychiatry 2009; 56 (214): 453-8 |
| 3. | David M. Eisenberg. perceptions about Complementary Therapies relative to Conventional Therapies among care-givers of mentally ill clients who were using both therapies. International Journal of Psychiatry 2007; 32(431): 245-56 |
| 4. | Bormann J. A spiritually based caregiver intervention with telephone delivery for family caregivers of veterans with schizophrenia, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System 2008; 9(23): 789-94 |
| 5. | Montesano A, Donzella MC. Family burden in bipolar disorders: results from the Italian Mood Disorders Study (IMDS).The International Journal of Third World medicine 2011; 56(7): 567-9 |
| 6. | Thomas D.Mayer. What factors influence attitudes towards people with current depression and current mania. International Journal of Psychiatry 2009; 23(9): 213-5 |
| 7. | E.Cassidy. Efficacy of a psycho-educational intervention in improving relatives knowledge about schizophrenia and reducing re-hospitalization. European Psychiatry 2010; 16(8): 457-9 |
| 8. | J. Ng, S. Zaidun. Determining the Attitudes of a Rural Community in Penang, Malaysia towards Mental Illness and Community-Based Psychiatric Care. The Internet Journal of Third World Medicine 2010; 34(8): 651-6 |
[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3]
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