The Views of Family Members about Nursing Care of Psychiatric Patients Admitted at a Mental Hospital in Malawi
Affiliation(s)
1 Community and Mental Health Nursing Department, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. 2 Zomba Mental Hospital, Zomba, Malawi.
1 Community and Mental Health Nursing Department, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. 2 Zomba Mental Hospital, Zomba, Malawi.
ABSTRACT
Family members of a mentally ill person play a crucial role in the recovery of their sick relative. They care for their sick relatives at home and in hospital. Some views of family members indicate that they get satisfaction from participating in nursing care of their sick relative. The aim of this study was to describe the views of family members about nursing care of psychiatric patients admitted at a mental hospital in Malawi. A qualitative study design was used and data were collected from ten participants through in-depth interviews. Ethical approval was granted by relevant authorities. Data were analysed using Colaizzi method. The findings fell into the following four themes that emerged: family participation in nursing care; nurses’ skills and experience in caring; respect for psychiatric patients and interactions and information sharing. This study offers valuable information about the views of families regarding nursing care of psychiatric patients. They are involved in the care of their sick relatives although there is lack of effective cooperation between them and nurses. The lack of collaboration made families receive inadequate information about their sick relative. Therefore, it is imperative that nurses are competent in implementing family involvement in nursing care.
Family members of a mentally ill person play a crucial role in the recovery of their sick relative. They care for their sick relatives at home and in hospital. Some views of family members indicate that they get satisfaction from participating in nursing care of their sick relative. The aim of this study was to describe the views of family members about nursing care of psychiatric patients admitted at a mental hospital in Malawi. A qualitative study design was used and data were collected from ten participants through in-depth interviews. Ethical approval was granted by relevant authorities. Data were analysed using Colaizzi method. The findings fell into the following four themes that emerged: family participation in nursing care; nurses’ skills and experience in caring; respect for psychiatric patients and interactions and information sharing. This study offers valuable information about the views of families regarding nursing care of psychiatric patients. They are involved in the care of their sick relatives although there is lack of effective cooperation between them and nurses. The lack of collaboration made families receive inadequate information about their sick relative. Therefore, it is imperative that nurses are competent in implementing family involvement in nursing care.
Cite this paper
Chorwe-Sungani, G. , Namelo, M. , Chiona, V. and Nyirongo, D. (2015) The Views of Family Members about Nursing Care of Psychiatric Patients Admitted at a Mental Hospital in Malawi. Open Journal of Nursing, 5, 181-188. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2015.53022.
Chorwe-Sungani, G. , Namelo, M. , Chiona, V. and Nyirongo, D. (2015) The Views of Family Members about Nursing Care of Psychiatric Patients Admitted at a Mental Hospital in Malawi. Open Journal of Nursing, 5, 181-188. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2015.53022.
References
[1] Kauye, F. (2008) Management of Mental Health Services in Malawi. International Psychiatry, 5, 29-30. [2] Kauye, F., Chiwandira, C., Wright, J., Common, S., Phiri, M., Mafuta, C., Maliwichi-Senganimalunje, L. and Udedi, M. (2011) Increasing the Capacity of Health Surveillance Assistants in Community Mental Health Care in a Developing Country, Malawi. Malawi Medical Journal, 23, 85-88 [3] WHO (2011) Mental Health Atlas 2011.
http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/atlas/profiles/mwi_mh_profile.pdf?ua=1 [4] Chorwe-Sungani, G. (2013) Nurses’ Knowledge and Skills in Providing Mental Health Care to People Living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi. Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 20, 650-654.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12062 [5] Chorwe-Sungani, G., Shangase, N. and Chilinda, I. (2014) Care of Patients in Malawi Who Have HIV/AIDS and Mental Health Problems. Mental Health Practice, 17, 35-39.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7748/mhp2014.04.17.7.35.e849 [6] Sjoblom, L., Pejlert, A. and Asplund, K. (2005) Nurses’ View of Family in Psychiatric Care. Issues in Clinical Nursing, 14, 562-569.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2004.01087.x [7] Brady, N. and McCain, G.C. (2004) Living with Schizophrenia: A Family Perspective. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol10No01HirshPsy01 [8] Bland, R. and Foster, M. (2012) Families and Mental Illness: Contested Perspectives and Implications for Practice and Policy. Australian Social Work, 65,517-534.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2011.646281 [9] Blomqvist, M. and Ziergert, K. (2011) Family in the Waiting Room: A Swedish Study of Nurses Conceptions of Family Participation in Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Settings. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 20, 185-194. [10] da Silva, K.V.L.G. and Monteiro, A.R.U. (2011) The Family in Mental Health: Support for Clinical Nursing Care. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, 45.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0080-62342011000500029 [11] Leahey, M. and Harper-Jaques, S. (2010) Integrating Family Nursing into a Mental Health Urgent Care Practice Framework: Ladders for Learning. Journal of Family Nursing, 16, 196-212.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1074840710365500 [12] Alem, A., Jacobsson, L. and Hanlon, C. (2008) Community-Based Mental Health Care in Africa: Mental Health Workers’ Views. World Psychiatry, 7, 54-57. [13] Eassom, E., Giacco, D., Dirik, A. and Priebe, S. (2014) Implementing Family Involvement in the Treatment of Patients with Psychosis: A Systematic Review of Facilitating and Hindering Factors. BMJ Open, 4, Article ID: e006108. [14] Kaas, M.J., Lee, S. and Peitzman, C. (2003) Barriers to Collaboration between Mental Health Professionals and Families in the Care of Persons with Serious Mental Illness. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 24, 741-756.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/mhn.24.8.741.756 [15] Bell, J.M. (2009) Family Systems Nursing: Re-Examined. Journal of Family Nursing, 15, 123-129.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1074840709335533 [16] Robinson, W.D., Springer, P.R., Bischoff, R., Geske, J., Backer, E., Olson, M., et al. (2012) Rural Experiences with Mental Illness: Through the Eyes of Patients and Their Families. Families, Systems, & Health, 30, 308-321.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0030171 [17] Rose, L.E., Mallinson, R.K. and Walton-Moss, B. (2004) Barriers to Family Care in Psychiatric Settings. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 36, 39-47.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.2004.04009.x [18] Kuuppelomaki, M., Sasaki, A., Yamada, K., Asakawa, N. and Shimanouchi, S. (2004) Family Carers for Older Relatives: Sources of Satisfaction and Related Factors in Finland. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 41, 497-505.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2003.11.004 [19] Chadda, R.K., Singh, T.B. and Ganguly, K.K. (2007) Care-giver Burden and Coping: A Prospective Study of Relationship between Burden and Coping in Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Affective Disorder. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 42, 923-930.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0242-8 [20] Seloilwe, E.S. and Thupayagale-Tshweneagae, G. (2007) Community Mental Health Care in Botswana: Approaches and Opportunities. International Nursing Review, 54, 173-178.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-7657.2007.00525.x [21] Creswell, J.W. (2007) Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design, Choosing among Five Approaches. 2nd Edition, Sage Publications Inc., Thousand Oaks. [22] Terr Blanche, M., Durrheim, K. and Painter, D. (2006) Research in Practice: Applied Methods for Social Sciences. 2nd Edition, UCT Press, Cape Town. [23] Andren, S. and Elmstahl, S. (2005) Family Caregivers’ Subjective Experiences of Satisfaction in Dementia Care: Aspects of Burden, Subjective Health and Sense of Coherence. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 19, 157-168.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2005.00328.x [24] Sveinbjarnardottir, E.K., Svavarsdottir, E.K. and Savaman, B.I. (2011) Nurses Attitudes towards the Importance of Families in Psychiatric Care Following an Educational and Training Intervention Program. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 18, 895-903.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2011.01744.x
[1] Kauye, F. (2008) Management of Mental Health Services in Malawi. International Psychiatry, 5, 29-30. [2] Kauye, F., Chiwandira, C., Wright, J., Common, S., Phiri, M., Mafuta, C., Maliwichi-Senganimalunje, L. and Udedi, M. (2011) Increasing the Capacity of Health Surveillance Assistants in Community Mental Health Care in a Developing Country, Malawi. Malawi Medical Journal, 23, 85-88 [3] WHO (2011) Mental Health Atlas 2011.
http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/atlas/profiles/mwi_mh_profile.pdf?ua=1 [4] Chorwe-Sungani, G. (2013) Nurses’ Knowledge and Skills in Providing Mental Health Care to People Living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi. Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 20, 650-654.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12062 [5] Chorwe-Sungani, G., Shangase, N. and Chilinda, I. (2014) Care of Patients in Malawi Who Have HIV/AIDS and Mental Health Problems. Mental Health Practice, 17, 35-39.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7748/mhp2014.04.17.7.35.e849 [6] Sjoblom, L., Pejlert, A. and Asplund, K. (2005) Nurses’ View of Family in Psychiatric Care. Issues in Clinical Nursing, 14, 562-569.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2004.01087.x [7] Brady, N. and McCain, G.C. (2004) Living with Schizophrenia: A Family Perspective. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol10No01HirshPsy01 [8] Bland, R. and Foster, M. (2012) Families and Mental Illness: Contested Perspectives and Implications for Practice and Policy. Australian Social Work, 65,517-534.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2011.646281 [9] Blomqvist, M. and Ziergert, K. (2011) Family in the Waiting Room: A Swedish Study of Nurses Conceptions of Family Participation in Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Settings. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 20, 185-194. [10] da Silva, K.V.L.G. and Monteiro, A.R.U. (2011) The Family in Mental Health: Support for Clinical Nursing Care. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, 45.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0080-62342011000500029 [11] Leahey, M. and Harper-Jaques, S. (2010) Integrating Family Nursing into a Mental Health Urgent Care Practice Framework: Ladders for Learning. Journal of Family Nursing, 16, 196-212.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1074840710365500 [12] Alem, A., Jacobsson, L. and Hanlon, C. (2008) Community-Based Mental Health Care in Africa: Mental Health Workers’ Views. World Psychiatry, 7, 54-57. [13] Eassom, E., Giacco, D., Dirik, A. and Priebe, S. (2014) Implementing Family Involvement in the Treatment of Patients with Psychosis: A Systematic Review of Facilitating and Hindering Factors. BMJ Open, 4, Article ID: e006108. [14] Kaas, M.J., Lee, S. and Peitzman, C. (2003) Barriers to Collaboration between Mental Health Professionals and Families in the Care of Persons with Serious Mental Illness. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 24, 741-756.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/mhn.24.8.741.756 [15] Bell, J.M. (2009) Family Systems Nursing: Re-Examined. Journal of Family Nursing, 15, 123-129.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1074840709335533 [16] Robinson, W.D., Springer, P.R., Bischoff, R., Geske, J., Backer, E., Olson, M., et al. (2012) Rural Experiences with Mental Illness: Through the Eyes of Patients and Their Families. Families, Systems, & Health, 30, 308-321.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0030171 [17] Rose, L.E., Mallinson, R.K. and Walton-Moss, B. (2004) Barriers to Family Care in Psychiatric Settings. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 36, 39-47.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1547-5069.2004.04009.x [18] Kuuppelomaki, M., Sasaki, A., Yamada, K., Asakawa, N. and Shimanouchi, S. (2004) Family Carers for Older Relatives: Sources of Satisfaction and Related Factors in Finland. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 41, 497-505.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2003.11.004 [19] Chadda, R.K., Singh, T.B. and Ganguly, K.K. (2007) Care-giver Burden and Coping: A Prospective Study of Relationship between Burden and Coping in Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Affective Disorder. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 42, 923-930.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-007-0242-8 [20] Seloilwe, E.S. and Thupayagale-Tshweneagae, G. (2007) Community Mental Health Care in Botswana: Approaches and Opportunities. International Nursing Review, 54, 173-178.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-7657.2007.00525.x [21] Creswell, J.W. (2007) Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design, Choosing among Five Approaches. 2nd Edition, Sage Publications Inc., Thousand Oaks. [22] Terr Blanche, M., Durrheim, K. and Painter, D. (2006) Research in Practice: Applied Methods for Social Sciences. 2nd Edition, UCT Press, Cape Town. [23] Andren, S. and Elmstahl, S. (2005) Family Caregivers’ Subjective Experiences of Satisfaction in Dementia Care: Aspects of Burden, Subjective Health and Sense of Coherence. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 19, 157-168.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2005.00328.x [24] Sveinbjarnardottir, E.K., Svavarsdottir, E.K. and Savaman, B.I. (2011) Nurses Attitudes towards the Importance of Families in Psychiatric Care Following an Educational and Training Intervention Program. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 18, 895-903.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2011.01744.x