The nurses' attitudes and knowledge of self-injurious behaviour in children and adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore nurses' attitudes and knowledge towards self-harm in children and adolescents and to determine whether the nurses felt they were competent in providing adequate care towards youngsters with self-injurious behaviour. Incidence of self-harm in youngsters together with gender differences, reasons and methods of self-harm used by these youngsters were explored. Other issues of self-harm reviewed include attitudes of nurses together with children's views towards self-harm. Literature regarding consequences, education and prevention of self-harm are also reviewed. A total sample of thirty eight (n=38) nurses, who work in the local psychiatric hospital in Malta and come or have come in contact with youngsters that self-harmed have contributed in this quantitative study. A questionnaire formulated by the researcher was used for data collection. The majority of nurses in this study have shown reasonable knowledge and positive attitudes on certain aspects regarding self-harm. However the majority of nurses did not feel comfortable working with these youngsters and feel that they were not knowledgeable enough. Many nurses viewed self-harming behaviours as "attention seeking" whilst some nurses believed that self-harm is always due to a mental illness. Furthermore a rather low percentage knew that there is a clear difference between suicide and self-mutilation. Finally the majority of nurses claimed that the place they worked in was not safe enough for these youngsters. The study indicated the need for more research on the impact of knowledge and attitudes on the care given to these youngsters. Finally it is recommended that practice and not just classroom knowledge on self-harming youngsters is needed by nurses. Other recommendations were to increase staff-patient ratio in order for the nursing staff to have more time to care for these youngsters. More specialized child and adolescent psychiatric units should be available to cater for the need of all youngsters who require hospitalization. More education, practice and training to nurses who come in contact with youngsters who self-harm.