Nurses and Assistant Medical Officers’ Competency in Managing Clients Presenting with Psychiatric Disorders in The Emergency Department
- Author:
Segaran Ramodran
1
Author Information
1. Faculty Of Medicine And Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia,
- Collective Name:Segaran Ramodran; Wendy Diana Shoesmith and Ahmad Faris Abdullah
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Nurses and assistant medical officers;
competency psychiatric emergency triage
- MeSH:
competency psychiatric emergency triage
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
2019;15(Supplement 1):60-67
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: General Hospital`s Emergency Departments (ED) have become focal points for individuals presenting with mental health problems seeking help. However, frontline ED nurses and Assistant Medical Officers (AMOs) often lack the skills and competency to effectively triage and manage clients presenting with a myriad of psychiatric issues. The objective of the study is to assess ED nurses & AMOs ’s perceived competency and associated factors in providing care for clients presenting with psychiatric concerns. Methods: This study is a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design. One hundred and forty-six ED nurses & AMOs were recruited from two tertiary general hospitals in Kota Kinabalu by random sampling. A validated tool (α = 0.92), the Behavior Health Competency Care (BHCC) questionnaire was used to measure psychiatric care competency among participants. Data analyses used descriptive and inferential statistics to identify the association of respondent’s work setting, designation, age, years of work experience, qualification with competency scores. Findings: low total mean score of 2.52(SD 0.68) was found in perceived psychiatric competency among ED nurses & AMOs. Other findings indicate, low perceived competence in risk assessment and poor ability to provide intervention for clients presenting with acute psychiatric conditions. Conclusion: This study found major gaps in psychiatric care competency among ED nurses & AMOs. As ED`s of general hospitals continue to be a focal point for clients with psychiatric disorders seeking help, competency shortfall among frontline ED nurses & AMOs, will negatively affect the quality of psychiatric care delivery and needs to be addressed.
- Full text:11.2019my0380.pdf
