Assessment of Patient's Family Knowledge about Electroconvulsive Therapy Treatment in Psychiatric Unit in Sulaimani General Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to assess the family knowledge about the patients ECT receiving. To identify patients family knowledge about the preparing patients for ECT.

Methodology: A quantitative design, descriptive study with A non- probability purposive sample, 100 patient's family attending the psychiatry services in a major hospital in Sulemani. Was carried out in Sulemani Hospital for the period of November 2011 to April 2012. A questionnaire was developed for this purpose, data was analyzed through percentage and mean.

Results: 90% of the respondents in patient's family consider that ECT is a treatment, and (70 %) of them considered ECT is investigation. 68% answered the ECT has not contraindication and 50% answered ECT has not complication.

Conclusion: the study indicate that most of the patient and their givers they have not enough information about the ECT as a treatment as well as about how they manage and prepare the patient before and after receiving ECT and during the recovery.

Recommendation: psychiatric nurses working in the psychiatric word should be prepared with means and education to help patient's family caregiver with ECT receiving to reach optimum level of functioning they learn how to assume reasonability for themselves and others, establish their independence and interact in socially acceptable way with other patients and staff.