Electroconvulsive therapy: Nurses' knowledge and attitudes

This study examined psychiatric nurses' knowledge of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and their attitudes toward ECT. Festinger's (1957) theory of cognitive dissonance provided the study framework. The hypothesis stated that there is a positive correlation between psychiatric nurses' knowledge of ECT and their attitudes toward ECT. The instrument used in the study to measure knowledge of ECT was developed by Janicak et al. (1985). Attitude was measured using an overall rating scale of 1-10. The sample consisted of 111 nurses selected at random from a list of psychiatric nurses obtained from the State Board of Nurse Examiners in a large southwestern state. The study hypothesis was tested and statistical results supported the hypothesis (~ = .50, p < .001).