Brief training in child and adolescent mental health: Impact on the knowledge and attitudes of pediatric nurses in Nigeria. Issue 3 (22nd March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Onileimo, Victoria; Bella‐Awusah, Tolulope; Lasebikan, Victor; Omigbodun, Olayinka
• Is Part Of: Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing. Volume 34:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 164
• Page End: 170
• Publication Date: 2021-03-22
• Subjects: attitudes -- child and adolescent mental health -- knowledge -- nurses -- training; Child psychiatric nursing -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychiatric nursing -- Periodicals; Child mental health -- Periodicals; Teenagers -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Child mental health -- United States -- Periodicals; Teenagers -- Mental health -- United States -- Periodicals; 618.92890231
• DOI: 10.1111/jcap.12312
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-6077

Abstract

Abstract: Problem: Poor knowledge and stigmatizing attitudes of healthcare professionals constitute a significant barrier to child and adolescent mental health care worldwide. This study aimed to determine the effect of a training intervention on the knowledge and attitudes of pediatric nurses to child mental health problems at a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Methods: A two group pretest–posttest study design was undertaken. A total of 156 pediatric nurses were recruited, and participants in the intervention group received a brief child mental health training based on the World Health Organization's mhGAP training manual. Knowledge and attitudes to child mental health problems were obtained at baseline, and post intervention. Findings: There were no differences in knowledge or attitudes across the two groups at baseline. Post intervention, there was a significant increase in the mean post knowledge scores of the intervention group compared with the control group ( t = 3.8, p < .001). The effect size of the intervention was 0.62. There were no significant differences in mean post attitude scores across groups. Conclusion: Incorporating children and adolescents mental health competencies into the training of nurses had a modest effect on their knowledge, but limited effect on their attitudes.