Current knowledge and attitudes of psychiatric nurses toward electroconvulsive therapy

This study assessed the current knowledge and attitudes of psychiatric nurses toward electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).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.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.Targeted ECT education is needed among psychiatric nurses with limited knowledge and negative attitudes toward ECT.