Current knowledge and attitudes of psychiatric nurses toward electroconvulsive therapy.

PURPOSE: This study assessed the current knowledge and attitudes of psychiatric nurses toward electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). DESIGN AND METHODS: A quantitative, nonexperimental study was conducted at a large psychiatric hospital in the United States. The Questionnaire on Attitudes and Knowledge (QuAKE) Scale was used to conduct the assessment among a convenient sample of 158 psychiatric nurses. FINDINGS: Participants' responses to questions that elicited knowledge of ECT ranged from 45% to 99% and positive attitudes ranged from 21% to 96%, revealing increased levels when compared with the low to average knowledge and positive attitudes noted in previous studies. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Targeted ECT education is needed among psychiatric nurses with limited knowledge and negative attitudes toward ECT.

Psychosocial Impacts of Immigration on Nigerian Immigrants in the United States: A Phenomenological Study.

Introduction. Nigerian immigrants constitute a major proportion of the increasing immigration trend from sub-Saharan Africa to the United States. However, limited studies exist on the psychosocial impacts of their immigration experiences. This phenomenological study, based on Husserlian philosophy, explored the perceptions of Nigerian immigrants about the psychosocial impacts of immigration to the United States. Method. Twenty Nigerian immigrants in Houston, Texas, constituting a purposive sample were interviewed face-to-face using semistructured guided questions and probes. Results. A thematic analysis using Giorgi's approach revealed both positive and negative themes but mostly negative psychosocial experiences of migration to the United States. Discussion. The participants associated the most negative experiences with the lack of adequate preparation prior to migration and the cultural differences between the two countries. Notwithstanding that the findings of this study have health and immigration policy implications and increased awareness for potential immigrants, further studies are needed.

Depression and Perspectives of Nigerian Immigrant Men in the United States: An Applied Ethnographic Study.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is among the most serious health problems experienced by immigrants. Research has not sufficiently explored the perspectives of immigrant men from male-dominant cultures on depression. The purpose of this study was to describe the perspectives of Nigerian immigrant men in the United States on depression and to determine whether their perceptions differ from those of their female counterparts of a previous study. METHOD: Focused applied ethnography was used to explore the perspectives of a purposeful sample of 18 Nigerian immigrant men in Houston, Texas, and analyze the data using a thematic approach. RESULTS: The overarching theme was, "Depression does not exist in the Nigerian culture." The participants denied the existence of depression. Gender differences were not noted in their perception of depression. DISCUSSION: The participants perceived depression differently from the U.S. dominant culture and may not receive adequate screening or treatment for depression, supporting the extant call for recognition of cultural differences in health care.

Treatment recidivism in adolescents with mental illness: A focused applied medical ethnography.

PROBLEM: Treatment recidivism, described as frequent unplanned relapse readmissions, is a national problem predominant in adolescents with mental illness. Because the main triggers of treatment recidivism are not fully understood, the purpose of this study was to explore treatment recidivism (i) to better understand treatment recidivism from the perspectives of recidivist adolescents with mental illness, (ii) to describe major factors that contribute to treatment recidivism and how best to minimize them from the perspectives of these adolescents, and (iii) to describe their interaction with the medical culture. METHODS: A focused applied medical ethnography was used to study 16 purposively selected adolescents. Interviews were conducted together with unobtrusive unit observation of the participants and collection of demographic and clinical information. FINDINGS: The participants were nearly unanimous in identifying the "additional stressors" of problematic parental relations and school bullying as the main triggers of treatment recidivism over and above their "routine stressors" of adolescence and mental illness. They had mixed perceptions of treatment recidivism and described their interaction with the medical culture as positive. CONCLUSION: Further research is needed to determine the impact of parental relations and school bullying on recidivism in adolescents with mental illness.