Exploring the experiences of mental health nurses in the management of schizophrenia in the Upper East Region of Ghana: a qualitative study
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Date
2024
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Publisher
BMJ Open
Abstract
Objective Schizophrenia is a chronic condition, of which
the diagnosis and management require comprehensive
care. The role mental health nurses play in this
management cannot be overemphasised. In an effort to
give their best, several challenges confront them which
need to be sought and addressed. This study aimed to
explore the factors that influence the management of
schizophrenia by mental health nurses in the Upper East
Region.
Design and participants A descriptive phenomenology
design was used in this study. Individual in-depth
interviews were conducted among 18 purposively sampled
mental health nurses using a semistructured interview
guide. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed
verbatim and analysed thematically using Colaizzi’s
approach.
Setting The study was conducted in five primary and
secondary-level health facilities in the Upper East Region
of Ghana.
Findings Five themes were deduced from the
theoretical framework, which were as follows: individual
factors, interpersonal factors, organisational factors,
community-level factors, and policy-level factors. At
the individual level, factors such as the condition of
the patient at presentation, medication side effects,
inadequate knowledge, and poor adherence were
identified. Interpersonal factors identified were poor
communication, lack of mutual respect, and poor
communication, while organisational factors such as
inadequate staff, inadequate infrastructure and logistics,
and unavailability of antipsychotics were reported.
Moreover, the study identified community-level factors
such as stigma and cultural beliefs, while policy-level
factors such as laws regarding suicide, patient rights,
and non-inclusion of mental health services into the
National Health Insurance Scheme were reported as
factors influencing the management of schizophrenia by
mental health nurses.
Conclusions Addressing these factors is essential to
ensure sustainable improvements and the effective
management of schizophrenia. It is imperative to consider
these factors when designing interventions and policies
to optimise the management of schizophrenia by mental
health nurses in Ghana.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
mental health nurses, Ghana, schizophrenia, Upper East Region
Citation
Daliri DB, Laari TT, Abagye N, et al. Exploring the experiences of mental health nurses in the management of schizophrenia in the Upper East Region of Ghana: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2024;14:e079933. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2023-079933