RAJIV GANDHI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES,

BANGALORE, KARNATAKA.

PROFORMA FOR REGISTRATION OF SUBJECTS FOR DISSERTATION

1. / NAME OF THE CANDIDATE AND ADDRESS / Mr. W. SANJOY SINGH
GOUTHAM COLLEGE OF NURSING,
MANJUNATHNAGAR,
WEST OF CHORD ROAD,
RAJAJINAGAR, BANGALORE-10
2. / NAME OF THE INSTITUTION / GOUTHAM COLLEGE OF NURSING,
MANJUNATHNAGAR,
WEST OF CHORD ROAD,
RAJAJINAGAR, BANGALORE-10
3. / COURSE OF STUDY AND SUBJECT / M.Sc. NURSING 1 YEAR
PSYCHOLOGICAL NURSING.
4. / DATE OF ADMISSION TO COURSE / 30.05.2007
5. /

TITLE OF THE TOPIC

/ A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE REGARDING MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG THE PUBLIC RESIDING IN SELECTED AREAS OF BANGALORE.
6 / BRIEF RESUME OF INTENDED WORK:
6.1 /

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

It is of great significance that 5 out of 10 leading causes of disabilities in the world are mental problems: 15-20% of all help seeker in general health sources in both developed and developing countries so far emotional and psychological problems.1
In the world about 500 million people are believed to suffer from neurotic, stress related and somatoform disorders. A further 200 million suffer from mood disorders, Such as chronic and manic depression. Mental retardation affects about 83 million people, epilepsy 30 million, dementia 22 million and schizophrenia 16 million. 2
Surveys of mental morbidity carried out in various parts of India suggests a morbidity ratio of not less than 18 – 20 per 1000 and the type of illness and their prevalence are very much same as in other part of the world. At least 10-20 per 1000 suffer from severe mental illness at any given time and atleast 3 to 5 times that number suffer from other forms of distressing and socio economically in capacitating emotional disorders. 3
Stigma against mental illness in probably as old as the civilization itself there are references to discrimination on the basis of mental illness in almost all the ancient books of law. In the well known Indian classic “Law of Man” there are references to instance, feast after death, rules regarding contract and appearance as a witness etc., unfortunately over the countries the public attitude has hardened and has become more irrational against all types of mental disorders. As a result not gross discrimination against people with mental illness in all spheres of life like job, housing, marriage immigration etc., greatly reduce the opportunities for the mentally ill for their rightful participation in the society.
The mental health professionals are aware of the harmful effect of this stigma against mental illness. It interferes at every stage in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of all types of mental disorders. It forces people to avoid seeking needed psychiatric help and grossly interferes in all efforts for their rehabilitation.
Different illness cause different kinds of emotional reaction in public. Most physical illness like a fracture or heart disease or even cancer causes a feeling sympathy for the victim. Some other communicable disease like tuberculosis or plague causes fear or catching the infection from the suffer. Still others like leprosy with its ugly open sores causes a feeling of disgust. Emotional reaction to mental illness is usually more than all these; it is perceival as something strange, mysteries and also dangerous. It is probably due to the difficulty in communicating with persons having mental illness. Though according to the present international classification of diseases there are ten different categories of mental disorders but public generally refers to all serious mental disorders, it seems that the maximum prejudice is probably related to only one Psychiatric category i.e., schizophrenia. All the common negative reaction associated with mental illness like fear, disgust danger, violence incurability etc, are generally arising from public’s perception of schizophrenia. As it is well known; ignorance or lack or proper knowledge is the root cause of all stigma.
Perhaps one of the strongest prejudices against mental illness is the fear of violence by mentally ill, in spite of poor scientific evidence. The vast majority or mentally ill persons never commit a violent crime. Recently a group of researchers and advocates for the mentally ill have summed up the current scientific portion as follows.4
“Mental disorders and violence are closely linked with public mind. A combination of factors promoters this participation; sensationalized reporting by the media whenever a violent act is committed by a former mental patient, popular misuse of psychiatric terms (such as “ psycho” or “Psychopathic “ and exploitation of stock formulas and narrow stereotypes by the entertainment industry. The public justifies its fear and rejection of people labeled mentally ill and attempts to segregate them in the community, by this assumption of danger. “In this connection, it is important to refer to the unfortunate role which media in our country like cinema, TV or press has played in perpetuating the prejudice against mental disorders. Mental illness is always shown as something to ridicule, some thing to laugh at, or something, which is bizarre: disgusting or frightening.
Perhaps the most important step reducing this stigma is to reduce this closet mentality or the atmosphere of secrecy. Mental illness needs to be brought out in the open. People must also develop the positive attitudes towards mental illness.
So, based on the literature review and the investigations experience. I felt that it is very much necessary to assess the knowledge and attitude towards mental illness among public Nurses can help the public to understand the nature, treatment and management about mental illness once they assess these aspects. Thus this study was designed to determine the knowledge and attitude regarding mental illness among people.
6.2 / REVIEW OF LITERATURE:
A study was conducted to determine the knowledge and attitude of the public towards depression. They found that public identifies the depression as an illness has a tendency to perceive depression as a social problem, believes that depression could be treated by drugs, has incorrect knowledge about drugs and treatment and in doubt about the acceptance of depressive patients in society.5
A study conducted on knowledge and attitude of the general public regarding depression. They found that the public regarding the depression as a serious illness. Males over 60% showed unfavorable attitude, 80% of the public consider antidepressants to be addictive and 69% were convinced that the antidepressants would lead to personality changes. They reported that the public knowledge about antidepressants must be approved.6
A study was conducted on perception of mental illness on women. They found no relationship between attitudes towards mental illness and demographic variables such as age, sex, martial status, educational level and personal exposure to people with mental illness. There were favourable responses on statements regarding value of life, family life, decision-making ability and management of mutually ill patients.7
A study was conducted to determine the attitude towards psychoses and psychotic patients in Beijing. He found that very few subjects had systematic knowledge about mental illness and nearly half had no acquired knowledge at all, on the whole they are sympathetic towards the mentally ill and provision of high quality mental healthcare.8
A study was conducted on changes on public attitudes towards mental illness on the Athens area. They found that most of the public expressed positive attitude towards the mentally ill and did not favour the social discrimination against and restriction of mentally ill patients.9
A study was conducted on community attitude towards mental illness. The main determination of attitudes was social class, ethnic origin, age and educational level. The main determination of knowledge was educational level. Highly educated people showed positive attitude towards mental illness. The attitude factors were predictive or respondents behavioral intentions towards the mental ill.10
A study was conducted to determine the public attitude towards schizophrenia in a rural area in Turkey. They reported that majority of the subjects in rural population recognize the schizophrenia as a mental disease. The public has an adequate knowledge about the treatment of schizophrenia. The socio economic factors do not seem to have any influence on the attitude towards the schizophrenia.11
A study was conducted on attitude towards mentally ill patients. He found that attitude was generally positive. The attitude of older and less educated was more negative. Educated people showed a highly positive attitude towards mentally ill patients. 13
A study conducted on perception of mental illness in Quebec residents. He reported that half of the subjects still feel that they are not informed enough about mental illness and even well informed people have a poor general knowledge of mental illness and their treatments most of the subjects belongs to low and middle class hand low knowledge about mental illness. 14
A study was conducted to study on attitude towards psychiatric patients. They found that there was a relationship between social attitude towards mental illness and some social demographic variables. The highly educated people showed positive attitude towards the psychiatric patients. They expressed less fear and more integration with psychiatric patients.12
6.3. / STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:
A study to determine the knowledge and attitude regarding mental illness among the public residing in selected areas of Bangalore.
6.4. / OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:
1.  To assess the knowledge regarding mental illness among the public.
2.  To assess the attitude towards mental illness among the public.
3.  To determine the relationship between knowledge and attitude regarding mental illness among the public.
4.  To determine the association between the knowledge and selected demographic variables (age, sex, education, occupation and type of family)
5.  To determine the association between the attitude and selected demographic variables (age, sex, education, occupation and type of family)
6.5. / OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS:
1.  Knowledge:
Knowledge refers to the verbal response of the subject regarding mental illness as measured by the knowledge part of the instrument.
2.  Attitude:
Attitude refers to the expressed beliefs and feelings of subjects regarding mental illness as measured by the attitude part of the instrument.
3.  Mental illness:
Type of illness with psychological or behavioral manifestations.
4.  Public:
People residing in selected areas of Bangalore.
6.6 / ASSUMPTIONS:
1.  Knowledge and attitude of public have a strong influence on their care giving and help seeking behaviour.
2.  Culture and belief of the community has a strong influence on the behaviour of the people.
3.  Attitude is influenced by knowledge.
6.7 / DELIMITATIONS:
1.  Data collected from only one family member of that particular family.
2.  To study subjects were limited to only one area.
3.  The data collection period is limited.
6.8 / PROJECTED OUT COME:
1.  The study has conduced to determine the knowledge and attitude regarding mental illness among the public.
2.  The study will assist the Nurses in providing needed information, which is lacking in the public.
3.  The study findings will help the community health nurses to plan the health education Programme on mental health and mental illness.
7. /

MATERIALS AND METHODS

7.1 / SOURCE OF DATA / Data will be collected from public from selected area of Bangalore
7.2 / METHODS OF COLLECTION OF DATA:
7.2.1 / SAMPLE CRITERIA:

INCLUSION CRITERIA

/ Ø  Age group of subjects between 20-60 years.
Ø  Any one of the family members who could read and write and speak English or Kannada.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA / Subjects who are not willing to participate in this study.
7.2.2 / RESEARCH DESIGN / Descriptive design
7.2.3 / SETTING / The study will be conducted in selected urban community in Bangalore.
7.2.4 / SAMPLING TECHNIQUE / Convenient sampling technique.
7.2.5 / SAMPLE SIZE / 100 subjects who had satisfied the inclusion criteria.
7.2.6 / TOOL OF RESEARCH / Ø  Socio demographic schedule.
Ø  Self administered structured knowledge questionnaire will be developed and used to assess the knowledge on mental illness.
Ø  Attitude question / scale towards mental illness.
7.2.7 / COLLECTION OF DATE / The investigators will administer the structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the knowledge component to collect data from the subjects.
7.2.8 / METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION / The investigator will analyze the date obtained by using descriptive and inferential statistics, the plan of the data analysis will be as follows:
Ø  Organize the date in a master sheet/ computer.
Ø  Mean, frequency, standard deviation and percentage.
Ø  Chi-square and correlation, coefficient.
7.3 / DOES THE STUDY REQUIRE ANY INVESTIGATION OR INTERVENTION TO BE CONDUCTED ON PATIENTS OR OTHER HUMANS OR ANIMALS? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE BRIEFLY.
Yes, the Study will be collected related to knowledge, attitude and it will be collected from the subject.
7.4 / HAS ETHICAL CLEARANCE BEEN OBTAINED FROM YOUR INSTITUTION IN CASE OF 7.3?
Yes, informed consent will be obtained from the community leader and subjects. Privacy, confidentiality and anonymity will be guarded. Scientific objectivity of the study will be maintained with honesty and impartiality.
8. / LIST OF REFERENCES:
1.  Ahuja N. “A short text book of Psychiatry” 5th Edition, Jaypee Publishers, 2000; 6-8.
2.  Park K. “Text book of Preventive and Social Medicine”, Banaarsidas Bhanot Publishers, Jabalpur; 2002; 570 – 78.
3.  Lalitha. “Mental Health of Psychiatry Nursing”, CBI Publishers, Delhi, I Edition, 1995; 2 –6.
4.  Lenk & Stueve. “Prejudice towards mental illness”, International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 1996; 228.
5.  Oamen E, Ogel K. “The knowledge and attitudes of the public towards depression and Istanbul Population sample”, Turk Psikiyarti Derg, 2003; 89-100.
6.  Athans D, Stefanek J. “Knowledge and attitude of the general public regarding symptoms etiology and possible treatments of depressive illness”, Nervewnarzt, 2002; 654 – 64.
7.  Al-Adawi S, et al. “Perception and attitude towards mental illness in Oman.”, International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2002; 305-17.
8.  Yang H Y. “Attitudes towards Psychoses and Psychotic Patients in Beijing.”, International Journel of Social Psychiatry, 1989; 181.
9.  Madianos M G, Economoce M. “Changes in public attitudes towards mental illness in the Athens area Psychiatry Scand”, 1999; 73 – 8.
10.  Craig T, Leff J. “Community attitudes to mental illness.”, British Journal of Psychiatry, 1996; 183-90.
11.  Taskin E O. “The public attitudes towards Schizophrenia in a rural area in Turkey”, Turk Psikiyatri Derg, 2002; 205-14.
12.  Vezzoli R, Archiati L. “Attitudes towards Psychiatric patients a pilot study in a northern Italian town”, Psychiatry Scand 1999.
13.  Ojanen M. “Attitude towards mental patients”, International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 1992; 120-30.
14.  Logmortage Y. “Perception of mental illness in Qubec residence”, Union med can 1993; 334-38, 340-43.
15.  www.pubmed.com
www.yahoo.com
www.google.com
9. /
SIGNATURE OF THE CANDIDATE