Nurses' attitudes towards mental illness in Iran: A cross-sectional study

Despite significant advancements in treatment, negative attitudes toward mental illnesses persist, even among healthcare professionals. A negative attitude toward mental illness affects the provision of healthcare services and follow-up care. Therefore, this cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 251 nurses working in the teaching hospitals of Zanjan using quota sampling. The data collection tool was a questionnaire assessing attitudes toward mental illness. The information was gathered through self-reporting. The attitude score toward mental illness among the participants was 123.3 (SD=10.05), higher than the average. Statistical tests showed a significant relationship between attitudes toward mental illness and variables such as age (P=0.04), gender (P=0.02), education level (P<0.01), and work experience (P=0.009). According to the results of this study, education and awareness regarding the care of patients with mental illnesses play a significant role in enhancing nurses' knowledge and skills. The best time to provide this education is during the nursing education period. Moreover, in-service training and educational seminars can significantly improve nurses' attitudes toward patients with mental illnesses.