QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT ON ATTITUDE OF NURSES …

“QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT ON ATTITUDE OF NURSES TOWARDS

SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AMONG ADOLESCENTS”

Jenifer Sing

Background – suicidal behavioral is frequently seen in adolescents. Suicide can be prevented by

increasing awareness among nurses for their own attitude towards suicidal behavior in

adolescents. When an adolescent try to commit suicide everyone related to him/her is affected.

Although attempting suicide especially in adolescent is complex but there are warning signs

which need to be assessed early.

Purpose- The purpose of the study is to explore and understand the attitude of nurses towards

the adolescents with suicidal tendency in selected hospitals of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh

Method – Total 4 participants (nurses) from Psychiatric ward in a hospital were interviewed

using semi structured questionnaire. Glaserian method was used to analyze the data using

purposive sampling technique.

Result – The findings revealed that adolescents trying to attempt suicide are because of mental

conflicts. The nurses identified that suicide is a psychiatric emergency which needs to be

prevented by early identification, care, attention, counseling and by sharing feelings and

thoughts. Depression, failures, broken relationships are the influencing factors for suicidal

behavior and a healthy peer group can become a helping hand for the one to cope up with the

issues. Nurses on the other hand also considered suicide as a crime.

Conclusion – There is a need of continuous teaching and professional development activities in

order to change the negative attitude of nurses towards suicidal behavior.

KEYWORDS: Attitude of nurses, Suicidal behavior, Adolescents

Mukt Shabd Journal

Volume IX, Issue IX, SEPTEMBER/2020

ISSN NO : 2347-3150

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INTRODUCTION –

The tragedy of suicide among adolescents is increasing day by day because of hopelessness and

frustrations due to friends, family, failures, siblings, poor coping strategy.

The reason behind adolescent attempting suicide can be complex but is increasing greatly. If

seen then suicide is the third leading cause of death between age 15 to 24 years as been reported

by centers for disease control and prevention.

Nurses are the one who remain with the clients 24/7 and they have the ability to have therapeutic

connections, so it is very important that a nurses should have positive attitude towards suicidal

adolescent number of studies have shown that nurses have negative attitude towards suicidal

client and there are evidences also which shows that negative attitude of a nurse towards client

hamper the quality care which should be given.

Allester et.al (2002) carried out study to investigate nurses attitude towards patients who have

attempted suicide. The study revealed that nurses held a moralistic attitude and viewed suicidal

person as a blameworthy.

NEED OF THE STUDY - Suicide is a public concern which need urgent concern, as per report

approximately 1.5 % of all deaths occur every year . Adolescents are now a day’s attempting

more suicide due to stress and failures. between 2002 – 2007 reports shows that there were

approximately 648 students who committed suicide because of stress. Last year 158 students

committed suicide in state for poor board result . Therefore it is very important to train the nurses

on how to deal with suicidal patient as they can be the great source in order to reduce the

suicidal tendency in adolescents .

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

“A qualitative study to assess the attitude of nurses towards suicidal behaviour

among adolescents in selected hospitals of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh”

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OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY To qualitatively explore the attitude of nurses

towards the suicidal behaviour among the adolescents.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY- The purpose of the study is to explore and

understand the attitude of nurses towards the adolescents with suicidal tendency in

selected hospitals of Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

• ATTITUDE OF NURSES -

According to my study - In this study it refers to subjective perceptions

towards adolescents with suicidal tendency.

• SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR -

According to my study - In this study it refers to tendency to do self harm.

• ADOLESCENTS - According to my study - In this study it refers to

young people from age 10 years to 19 years.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY –

RESEARCH APPROACH QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

RESEARCH DESIGN GROUNDED THEORY

RESEARCH SETTING SELECTED HOSPITAL OF

MORADABAD

SAMPLE PSYCHIATRIC NURSES

SAMPLE SIZE 4

SAMPLE TECHNIQUE PURPOSIVE SAMPLING

TECHNIQIUE

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SAMPLING CRITERIA –

INCLUSION CRITERIA -

Nurses who were posted in psychiatric ward

N urses who were present at the time of data

collection

EXCLUSION CRITERIA –

Nurses who were not willing to participate in study

SECTION A

DESCRIPTION OF DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

Sample 1

Name – Nitin

1. Age - 30 years

2. Gender – Male

3. Religion – Hindu

4. Marital status – Married

5. Working area – Psychiatric ward

6. Professional qualification – BSC Nursing

7. Experience – 3 years

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Sample 2

Name – Firoz

1. Age – 28 years

2. Gender- male

3. Religion – muslim

4. Marital status- married

5. Working area – Psychiatric ward

6. Professional qualification - G.N.M

7. Experience – 1 year

Name – Rashmi

Sample 3

1. Age – 34 years

2. Gender- female

3. Religion- Christian

4. Marital status- unmarried

5. Working area – psychiatric ward

6. Professional qualification - BSC Nursing


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Sample 4

Name – Heera

1. Age – 26 years

2. Gender – female

3. Religion – Muslim

4. Marital status- married

5. Working area - psychiatric ward

6. Professional qualification – Bsc nursing


TABLE – 1.1: FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION

OF NURSES BY THEIR AGE\

SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC

VARIABLES (AGE )

FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE

25 YEARS – 30 YEARS

3

75 %

31 YEARS – 35 YEARS

1

25 %

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Figure 1 FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF NURSES BY THEIR

AGE

TABLE – 1.2: FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF

NURSES BY THEIR GENDER

SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC

VARIABLES (GENDER)

FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE

MALE

2

50 %

FEMALE

2

50%

75%

25.50%

AGE

25 YEARS - 30 YEARS

31 YEARS - 35 YEARS

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Figure 2- FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF NURSES

BY THEIR GENDER


NURSES BY THEIR RELIGION

SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC

VARIABLES

(RELIGION )

FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE

HINDU

1

25 %

MUSLIM

2

50 %

CHRISTIAN

1

25 %

50%50%

GENDER

MALE

FEMALE

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Figure 3 FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF NURSES

BY THEIR RELIGION


NURSES BY THEIR MARITAL STATUS

SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC

VARIABLES

(MARITAL STATUS )

FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE

MARRIED

3

75%

UNMARRIED

1

25 %

25%

50%

25%

RELIGION

HINDU

MUSLIM

CHRISTIAN

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Figure 4: FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF NURSES BY

THEIR MARITAL STATUS


NURSES BY THEIR PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC

VARIABLES (

PROFFESIONAL

QUALIFICATION )

FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE

BSc Nursing

3

75%

GNM

1

25 %

75%

25%

MARITAL STATUS

MARRIED

UNMARRIED

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Figure 5 FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF NURSES BY

THEIR PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION


NURSES BY THEIR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC

VARIABLES (

EXPERIENCE)

FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE

1 YEAR – 3 YEAR

3

75%

4 YEAR – 6 YEAR

1

25 %

75%

25%

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

BSc Nursing

GNM

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Figure 6 FREQUENCY AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF NURSES BY

THEIR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

SECTION B

SELF STRUCTURED QUESTIONAIRE

1. Suicidal behavior is related to pathlogical factors – The participants had various

perceptions regarding suicidal behavior among adolescents. They feel that person becomes

mentally weak and is not able to understand what is good or bad . the ability to think

logically to a specific situation get lost .

Participant 1 – “I personally see it to be a problem which need early solution as it is a

serious concern related to mental health for which a proper call is needed” .

Participant 2 – “suicidal tendency is seen among adolescent who are depressed or having

anxiety. The cases need urgent attention because person with suicidal behavior loses its

balance and is with preoccupied mind that life need end”

Participant 3 – “self harm is a very common problem among adolescents which need early

assessment. Every behavior is having a purpose, before anybody will act. Therefore it is very

important to understand the behavior”

75%

25%

EXPERIENCE

1 YEARS - 3 YEARS

4 YEARS - 6 YEARS

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Participant 4 –“ I will still consider it as a crime . “When you commit suicide, it’s a sin

against God. For example, if you commit suicide, you won’t go to heaven. You’ll go straight

to hell.”

1.1 . Suicidal behavior is a mental health issue –Participant spoke that client with

suicidal behavior can harm themselves as their normal thinking and judgmental ability is

been impaired due to disturbances in mind due to depression , anxiety, personality

disorders due to which they choose the way which is not right.

Participant 1 – It is due to depression, anxiety, too much trouble, failures in studies.

Participant 2 – it is due to family problems, excessive tension, continuous failure, broken

relationships and negative comments which make person to think abnormally.

Participant 3 – it is due to depression mostly when person lose its balance and the power of

thinking is disturbed.

Participant 4 – one of the reason for suicidal behavior can be excessive work load,

humiliation which disturb the thinking and judgmental capacity of an individual.

2. Suicidal person need professional attention - participants said that client with

self harm can do anything when they can harm themselves they are in need of urgent care

and attention.

2.1. Admit in Mental hospital – Participant spoke that self harm client should be

admitted in hospital so that they can get proper attention and advice from the nurses. They also

revealed that continuous counseling at early stage can make their condition better which will

help them to lead a normal life.

Participant 1 – “ A person who is trying to attempt suicide do not want to die so badly actually

they want to live. Many people come back and are thankful that they were not been allowed to

kill themselves at that time and were given attention.”

Participant 2 – “we should talk to the person that it is not good to harm yourself”

Participant 3 – “They simply need psychiatrist in order to listen to their problems”

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Participant 4 – “understanding the causes for the suicidal attempt is very important “

2.2. Understanding the feelings of the sufferer – Adolescents is the time period when

these young people are having a lot many feelings , emotions , questions for which they need

someone who understand their feelings and emotions and if not everything gets build up in their

mind which can come up as a suicide.

Participant 1 – “proper care ,love. space to share their problems can help to prevent suicide”

Participant 2 – “listening and understanding their emotions is very important among

adolescents”

Participant 3 – “feelings been expressed by the patient need to understood clearly and should

not be judged“

Participant 4 – “A care taker should never use any threatening words and let the adolescent

express her feelings”

2.3 Having good peer group puts a positive impact on suicidal attempts among

adolescents – Participant conveyed that adolescents with suicidal behavior should have good

friends, as a friend help and influence the adolescents emotionally, as client can easily ventilate

their feelings to a friend .Being with friends help youngsters to cope up with problems easily.

Participant 1 – “Having good friends can help them to cope up with negative thoughts”

Participant 2 – “A good friend and a good partner can help to cope up with the problems very

easily “

Participant 3 – “Friends can stop them if they do any abnormal activity as I have witnessed

this”

Participant 4 –“they should have one understanding person with who can tell what is right and

wrong”

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RESULT -

The objective of this study was to understand the attitude of nurses towards adolescent who have

attempted suicide. The nurses were interviewed and finally two themes emerged from data.

.

When been asked for the actions which can help in order to prevent suicide among adolescent

nurses respond that they need professional attention along with someone who can understand

their feelings. They also added that having good peer group can have positive attitude impact on

suicidal attempts among adolescents. The study clearly shows that nurse who was having less

year of experience in psychiatric ward gave negative response.

CONCLUSION

A qualitative study was carried out to assess the attitude of nurses which shows that there is a

need of continuous training for the nurses so that the negative attitude can be changed which will

SUICIDAL

BEHAVIOUR

RELATED TO

PATHOLOGICAL

FACTORS

PROFFESSIONAL

ATTENTION

THEMES

RELIGIOUS

VIEWS

MENTAL

HEALTH

ISSUES

MENTAL

HOSPITAL

UNDERSTANDING

THE FEELINGS OF

SUFFERER

GOOD

PEER

GROUP

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eventually lead towards quality care. The study clearly demonstrates a significant difference in

attitude of nurses with more experience then with less experience. The results also need suicide

intervention strategies.

LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH

The study was conducted only on psychiatric nurses. In future a comparative research can be

conducted between psychiatric nurses and other nurses so that further understanding for the

nurse’s attitude is revealed.

REFRENCES

Alston M. & Robinson B. (1992) Nurses attitudes towards suicide. Omega 25, 205–215

Barstow D. (1995) Self-injury and self-mutilation. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing 33,

19–22.

Boyes A. (1994) Repetition of overdose: a retrospective five year study. Journal of

Advanced Nursing 20, 462–468.

World Health Organization. Depression and other common mental disorders: global

health estimates. 2017. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/254610/WHO-

MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf?sequence=1. Accessed 18 Dec 2018.

Stein D, Brom D, Elizur A, Witztum E. The association between attitudes toward suicide

and suicidal ideation in adolescents. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1998

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QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT ON ATTITUDE OF NURSES …