Perceptions of knowledge, attitude and skills about non-suicidal self-injury: A survey of emergency and mental health nurses

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major public health concern and is also associated with increased risk of suicide. The type of care people with NSSI receive at the hospital impacts their health outcomes. This study explored emergency department (ED) and mental health nurses’ (MHNs) understan...

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Main Authors: Ngune, Irene, Hasking, Penelope, McGough, Shirley, Wynaden, Dianne, Janerka, Carrie, Rees, Clare
Format: Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2020
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81940
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author Ngune, Irene
Hasking, Penelope
McGough, Shirley
Wynaden, Dianne
Janerka, Carrie
Rees, Clare
author_facet Ngune, Irene
Hasking, Penelope
McGough, Shirley
Wynaden, Dianne
Janerka, Carrie
Rees, Clare
author_sort Ngune, Irene
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major public health concern and is also associated with increased risk of suicide. The type of care people with NSSI receive at the hospital impacts their health outcomes. This study explored emergency department (ED) and mental health nurses’ (MHNs) understanding, attitudes, empathy and confidence to work with people presenting with NSSI. ED and MHNs who belonged to either the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) or the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) were invited to complete an online survey through a group email from their college. One hundred and one nurses (56 ED and 45 MHNs) completed the survey. The results revealed that nurses from both groups had an accurate understanding of NSSI and had positive attitudes about patients who self-injure. However, confidence was higher among MHNs. Greater knowledge of NSSI was correlated with increased confidence, positive attitudes and empathy. For mental health nurses, but not ED nurses, years of clinical practice was associated with nurses’ confidence. In contrast, ED nurses with more than 10 years’ experience were less confident in addressing NSSI than ED nurses with less experience. Issues that affect both ED and MHNs’ knowledge, attitude, empathy and confidence to care for patients who self-injure are multifactorial. Future education and training should focus on therapeutic interactions with people at risk of repeat NSSI. Further, more research is recommended to explore patients’ perspectives of nurses’ attitudes in care for people who self-injure.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-819402021-02-15T04:18:08Z Perceptions of knowledge, attitude and skills about non-suicidal self-injury: A survey of emergency and mental health nurses Ngune, Irene Hasking, Penelope McGough, Shirley Wynaden, Dianne Janerka, Carrie Rees, Clare Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major public health concern and is also associated with increased risk of suicide. The type of care people with NSSI receive at the hospital impacts their health outcomes. This study explored emergency department (ED) and mental health nurses’ (MHNs) understanding, attitudes, empathy and confidence to work with people presenting with NSSI. ED and MHNs who belonged to either the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) or the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) were invited to complete an online survey through a group email from their college. One hundred and one nurses (56 ED and 45 MHNs) completed the survey. The results revealed that nurses from both groups had an accurate understanding of NSSI and had positive attitudes about patients who self-injure. However, confidence was higher among MHNs. Greater knowledge of NSSI was correlated with increased confidence, positive attitudes and empathy. For mental health nurses, but not ED nurses, years of clinical practice was associated with nurses’ confidence. In contrast, ED nurses with more than 10 years’ experience were less confident in addressing NSSI than ED nurses with less experience. Issues that affect both ED and MHNs’ knowledge, attitude, empathy and confidence to care for patients who self-injure are multifactorial. Future education and training should focus on therapeutic interactions with people at risk of repeat NSSI. Further, more research is recommended to explore patients’ perspectives of nurses’ attitudes in care for people who self-injure. 2020 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81940 10.1111/inm.12825 Wiley-Blackwell restricted
spellingShingle Ngune, Irene
Hasking, Penelope
McGough, Shirley
Wynaden, Dianne
Janerka, Carrie
Rees, Clare
Perceptions of knowledge, attitude and skills about non-suicidal self-injury: A survey of emergency and mental health nurses
title Perceptions of knowledge, attitude and skills about non-suicidal self-injury: A survey of emergency and mental health nurses
title_full Perceptions of knowledge, attitude and skills about non-suicidal self-injury: A survey of emergency and mental health nurses
title_fullStr Perceptions of knowledge, attitude and skills about non-suicidal self-injury: A survey of emergency and mental health nurses
title_full_unstemmed Perceptions of knowledge, attitude and skills about non-suicidal self-injury: A survey of emergency and mental health nurses
title_short Perceptions of knowledge, attitude and skills about non-suicidal self-injury: A survey of emergency and mental health nurses
title_sort perceptions of knowledge, attitude and skills about non-suicidal self-injury: a survey of emergency and mental health nurses
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/81940