Knowledge and Attitudes towards Suicide among Nurses of National Referral Hospital in Bhutan

Abstract

Objective: To explore Bhutanese nurse’s knowledge about and attitudes towards suicide, to determine the association between nurse’s characteristics and their knowledge about and attitudes towards suicide, and to test the relationship between knowledge about and attitudes towards suicide. Method: A descriptive study with the correlational method was conducted in 216 nurses working in various units and departments of the National Referral hospital in Thimphu city of Bhutan. Data collection was performed in March, 2017 using structured questionnaires, i.e. nurses’ characteristics, suicidal knowledge questionnaire and suicidal attitude questionnaire. The internal consistency reliability of the knowledge questionnaire was acceptable (Kuder-Richardson 20 coefficient = 0.70), whereas that of the attitude questionnaire was high (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = 0.80). Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product moment and point biserial correlation were used for data analyses. Results: Knowledge about (mean = 14.31; SD = 2.88) and attitudes towards (mean = 53.86; SD = 6.36) suicide among nurses were in moderate levels. Nurse’s characteristics including age, level of education, years of experience, and nurses’ history of attempted or contemplated suicide were significantly associated with knowledge about suicide. Nurse’s gender, years of experience, past caring experience, and previous training and education were significantly associated with nurse’s attitudes towards suicide. There was also a significant positive correlation between nurse’s knowledge about and attitudes towards suicide (r = 0.25, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The study results can be used as baseline data to develop effective nursing care and interventions pertinent to suicide. Training and education are needed for nurses to improve their knowledge about and attitudes towards suicide. Keywords: suicide, knowledge, attitude, nurses, Bhutan