Attitudes of Italian mental health nurses towards mental illness and recovery: a cross-sectional study

Background: Mental health nurses' (MHNs) stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses are obstacles to recovery and the development of effective care and treatment. Although many authors have been interested in exploring stigma among general health professionals, paradoxicall...

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Main Authors: Giovanni Napoli, Simone Autuori, Kumi Senkyire Ephraim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIMS Press 2023-05-01
Series:AIMS Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/publichealth.2023025?viewType=HTML
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author Giovanni Napoli
Simone Autuori
Kumi Senkyire Ephraim
author_facet Giovanni Napoli
Simone Autuori
Kumi Senkyire Ephraim
author_sort Giovanni Napoli
collection DOAJ
description Background: Mental health nurses' (MHNs) stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses are obstacles to recovery and the development of effective care and treatment. Although many authors have been interested in exploring stigma among general health professionals, paradoxically, less and non-generalizable evidence is available on this phenomenon among MHNs. Understanding the factors associated with stigma and its relationship to recovery attitudes among MHNs could allow for more accurate interventions and improve patient care outcomes. Objective: This study conducted on a sample of Italian psychiatric nurses had the objective of analyzing the aptitude for recovery and the tendency towards stigma of these professionals towards mental illness. Methodology: A cross-sectional web survey was conducted on a sample of Italian MHNs, who were administered two validated tools, the RAQ-7 (assessment of recovery aptitude) and the WHO-HC-15 (assessment of stigma) respectively. Results: A total of 204 MHNs were interviewed. The analysis showed positive overall scores (high recovery aptitude and low stigma levels) among participating MHNs. The attitude to recovery appeared to be directly related to a lower tendency to stigma towards mental illness. It has been observed that MHNs with advanced levels of education appear to be more predisposed to recovery, as well as generally less stigmatizing. There is evidence that the setting in which care is provided, marital status and age can play a significant role in the tendency to stigmatization. Conclusion: Our manuscript could assist nursing executives, leaders or educators in making decisions about managing and preventing stigma among MHNs.
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spelling doaj.art-f1dab3f566b84be4a9d5cde65a6ba9802023-06-14T01:18:34ZengAIMS PressAIMS Public Health2327-89942023-05-0110233334710.3934/publichealth.2023025Attitudes of Italian mental health nurses towards mental illness and recovery: a cross-sectional studyGiovanni Napoli0Simone Autuori 1 Kumi Senkyire Ephraim21. Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), Udine, Italy2. UOC Psichiatria 2, Azienda Ospedale-Università Padova (AOUP), Padova, Italy3. Ga West Municipal Hospital-Ghana Health Service, Accra, GhanaBackground: Mental health nurses' (MHNs) stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses are obstacles to recovery and the development of effective care and treatment. Although many authors have been interested in exploring stigma among general health professionals, paradoxically, less and non-generalizable evidence is available on this phenomenon among MHNs. Understanding the factors associated with stigma and its relationship to recovery attitudes among MHNs could allow for more accurate interventions and improve patient care outcomes. Objective: This study conducted on a sample of Italian psychiatric nurses had the objective of analyzing the aptitude for recovery and the tendency towards stigma of these professionals towards mental illness. Methodology: A cross-sectional web survey was conducted on a sample of Italian MHNs, who were administered two validated tools, the RAQ-7 (assessment of recovery aptitude) and the WHO-HC-15 (assessment of stigma) respectively. Results: A total of 204 MHNs were interviewed. The analysis showed positive overall scores (high recovery aptitude and low stigma levels) among participating MHNs. The attitude to recovery appeared to be directly related to a lower tendency to stigma towards mental illness. It has been observed that MHNs with advanced levels of education appear to be more predisposed to recovery, as well as generally less stigmatizing. There is evidence that the setting in which care is provided, marital status and age can play a significant role in the tendency to stigmatization. Conclusion: Our manuscript could assist nursing executives, leaders or educators in making decisions about managing and preventing stigma among MHNs.https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/publichealth.2023025?viewType=HTMLmental healthnursingpsychiatric nursingstigmarecovery
spellingShingle Giovanni Napoli
Simone Autuori
Kumi Senkyire Ephraim
Attitudes of Italian mental health nurses towards mental illness and recovery: a cross-sectional study
AIMS Public Health
mental health
nursing
psychiatric nursing
stigma
recovery
title Attitudes of Italian mental health nurses towards mental illness and recovery: a cross-sectional study
title_full Attitudes of Italian mental health nurses towards mental illness and recovery: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Attitudes of Italian mental health nurses towards mental illness and recovery: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Attitudes of Italian mental health nurses towards mental illness and recovery: a cross-sectional study
title_short Attitudes of Italian mental health nurses towards mental illness and recovery: a cross-sectional study
title_sort attitudes of italian mental health nurses towards mental illness and recovery a cross sectional study
topic mental health
nursing
psychiatric nursing
stigma
recovery
url https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/publichealth.2023025?viewType=HTML
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AT kumisenkyireephraim attitudesofitalianmentalhealthnursestowardsmentalillnessandrecoveryacrosssectionalstudy