Knowledge and attitudes towards electroconvulsive therapy in an academic psychiatric department

South African Journal of Psychiatry

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Knowledge and attitudes towards electroconvulsive therapy in an academic psychiatric department
 
Creator Masenya, Lerato L. Nel, Yvette M.
 
Subject Psychiatry; Psychology electroconvulsive therapy; knowledge; attitudes; psychiatry; psychology; South Africa.
Description Background: Negative attitudes towards electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among health professionals have been attributed to a lack of knowledge, despite advancements in its administration and evidence of its efficacy in certain psychiatric conditions.Aim: This study assesses knowledge and attitudes towards ECT among psychiatry and clinical psychology professionals.Setting: The University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Psychiatry, Johannesburg, South Africa.Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional design was used. All psychiatry and clinical psychology professionals associated with the university were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey from 01 September 2022 to 30 June 2023.Results: The response rate was 49.6% (n = 58) among psychiatrits and 22.2% (n = 22) among clinical psychology professionals. Psyhiatrists had greater knowldge and more favourable attitudes than psychologists. Only 45.5% of psychologists had exposure to ECT, compared to 93.1% of psychiatrists. Knowledge and attitude scores were significanly correlated (p = 0.009, OR 6.7). Most psychologists (86.4%) recommended ECT theory be included in their curriculum.Conclusion: Greater knowledge correlates with improved attitudes towards ECT. Increased training could enhance attitudes, particularly among psychology professionals.Contribution: This study offers insights into knowledge and attitudes towarss ECT in a Johannesburg psychiatry department.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor University of the Witwatersrand Department of Psychiatry and Department of Psychology
Date 2024-11-21
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — survey
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v30i0.2302
 
Source South African Journal of Psychiatry; Vol 30 (2024); 9 pages 2078-6786 1608-9685
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2302/3660 https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2302/3661 https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2302/3662 https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2302/3663
 
Coverage South Africa, Johannesburg 2022-2023 age, gender, profession, exposure to ECT
Rights Copyright (c) 2024 Lerato L. Masenya, Yvette M. Nel https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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