“Knowledge And Attitude Towards ECT Among The Caregivers Of Patients In A Tertiary Mental Health Care Setting”.

Background: Caregivers play an important role in shaping patients’ experiences with ECT. Despite evidence that ECT is an effective and safe treatment, certain factors, such as social stigma, inadequate knowledge, doubt about efficacy, and safety, have limited its use. With adequate knowledge, information, and understanding caregiver, as well as the patient, will develop a positive attitude towards it simultaneously. Aim: To assess the correlation of knowledge and attitude towards ECT among the caregivers of patients in a tertiary mental health care setting. Methodology: This study employed a descriptive correlational research design, conducted within a tertiary mental health care setting. A total 50 numbers of caregivers of patients with or without receiving ECT admitted during the data collection period were considered as study participants. A Socio-demographic profile, a Structured tool (Questionnaire for assessment of Knowledge regarding ECT), and Self self-structured rating Scale for assessment of attitude regarding ECT were used to gather the data and subsequently analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistic methods by version 20 of SPSS. Result: The study revealed no significant correlation between Knowledge scores and attitude towards ECT. However, a significant association was found between knowledge of clinical diagnosis, history of patient receiving ECT before, number of admissions of patient, and previous treatment history of patient among the caregivers of patients in a tertiary mental health care setting. Conclusion: Many people had a limited understanding and unfavorable attitude regarding ECT. In the present study, it was found that there were a significant association of knowledge and some socio-demographic and clinical variables, but no association of attitude with socio-demographic and clinical variables. The study finding also reveals that there was no significant correlation between the Knowledge score and attitude regarding ECT. Keywords: Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Knowledge, Attitude, Caregivers.