Factors Related to the Willingness of Public Health Nurses to Send Psychiatric Patient for Coerced Treatment in Central Taiwan

[[abstract]]Objective：Some adverse events happened during the coerced treatment process of psychiatric patients Taiwan in recent years. It is worthwhile to find out the shortcomings of the present caring system and regulations of the mental health community in Taiwan. This study aims to explore the influence factors to the willingness of Taiwan public health nurses to send psychiatric patients coerced treatment. Method：The study is a cross-sectional survey, and a self-administered questionnaire which was developed for this study. The questions consist of variables such as demography, professional experiences, resources, execution difficulties, and execution willingness. Among the questions, the ones concerning difficulties and willingness were all evaluated using a four-point scale. Data on all public health nurses working in middle Taiwan including these five areas: Changhua County, Nantou County, Taichung County, Taichung City, and Yunlin County. The questionnaire was collected from August to September 2006. 635 nurses (98%) out of 641 anonymous ones responded to the questionnaire. Data was analyzed by descriptive method and logistic regression (SPSS/PC120 bundled software). Results：Study results indicated that 91.8% claimed they had difficulties contacting the patients, and 70.8% worried about the legitimacy of coerced treatment process. Additional analysis showed three major factors affecting nurses’ willingness of carrying out coercive treatment process: execution experiences, the level of support from superintendents, and the degree of difficulties confronted during the procedure. Those who ever dealt with coerced treatment patients in the last two years were less willing; those who had higher support from the officers of local health bureau were more willing; those who experienced higher degree of difficulties at the process were again less willing. Conclusions ： The study suggests strengthening professional ability training programs for the public health nurses to deal with dangerous psychiatric patients. The local bureau in charge should actively finds out the obstacles that executors are facing, and also positively support and integrate the coerced treatment procedure