Examination of the effect of education about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on nursing practice and patient satisfaction

This research was conducted as a quasi-experimental study for the purpose of evaluating the effect of education about ECT and ECT management given to nurses working on a psychiatric ward on nursing practice and patient satisfaction. The research sample for the pre-test was comprised of 52 ECTs in which nurses participated in the implementation and management on the psychiatric ward at Dokuz Eylül University Hospital between April and October 2006. The post-test sample was comprised of 52 ECTs in which nurses participated in the implementation and management on the psychiatric ward between January and March 2007. An Observation Form to Determine Nursing Care during ECT and Satisfaction Form developed by the researcher after receiving expert opinion were used as data collection tools in the study. The data that were obtained were evaluated using Analysis of Difference Between Two Means test for significance. The total score for nursing care in ECT management that the nurses included in the research received before education was X:4 and after education was X:11.5. The difference between the nurses' scores for nursing care in ECT management before and after education was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). The patients' mean score for satisfaction with nursing care in the administration of ECT was X:2.5 before education and X:4.1 after education. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups (p<0.05) In conclusion education given to nurses about ECT and nursing care in ECT management improves nursing practice and patient satisfaction. For this reason it is recommended that continuing education directed at nursing care in ECT management be planned and repeated at regular intervals.