Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Questionnaire for Health workers

Department of Psychiatry
National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences Department of psychiatry, NIMHANS Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Questionnaire for Health workers SL # 1 2 3 4. 5 6 7 8 Item Mental illness is curable Mentally ill individuals need support and care by the family Mental illness is due to evil spirit, black magic and wrath of Gods Behavior disturbances seen in mentally ill person are related to strange experiences and thinking disturbance consequent to neurochemical changes in the brain. Very effective and safe drugs are available to treat mental illness A diagnosis of mental illness is made based on history and mental state examination alone Mental disorders are inherited Strange or altered behavior seen in mental illness is related to strange experiences and disordered thinking. These can be rectified by administered of medications, which alters the neuro-chemical abnormalities in the brain. Disability seen in mentally ill person is the result of lack of mental health care Mentally ill people are understood as strange because internal experiences are some times ununderstanbale to the onlooker Mental ill individuals can have strange experiences like hallucinations and false firm beliefs like delusions Mentally ill persons should be brought under care proactively by health care staff after early identification. The only way to convince the community that mentally can recover and function normally is by initiating treatment as early as possible Psychotic symptoms like hallucination and delusions, depressive symptoms like sad mood and disinterest can be controlled within three months if treated early. 2 out of every 1000 population are likely to suffer from schizophrenia 2 out of every 1000 population are like to suffer from mood disorders 10 out of every 1000 individuals are likely to suffer from periodic attacks of epileptic fits/seizures Tubectomised women and vasectomised men complain of ill-defined bodily complaints because surgical procedure causes weakness in them. Mental retardation can be prevented by providing good health care Epilepsy and mental retardation are often referred to as poverty related disorders Epileptic fits can be controlled by taking medication regularly. Anti-epileptic drugs can be stopped after two years of fit free period Yes No

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in majority of patients One very simple way of managing mental retardation at home is by giving vitamins and tonics very early in infancy Mental retardation is a permanent disability Effective management of mental retardation can occur only if the condition is identified early in infancy or childhood With respect to mentally ill persons resuming routines like working, cooking, shopping, reading, and socialization should be started as early as it is possible after initiation of treatment Rehabilitation of mentally ill person cannot be done at home Mentally ill person can be best helped by getting them married Maintenance anti-psychotics can be administered by health workers / ANMs in the patients house Sensory and motor skills can be achieved by starting simple oil massage followed by hot water both every day till the child is mobile. Addiction is an anti-social behavior, therefore punishment and imprisonment is the best intervention for such individuals The best first aid for epileptics fits is to turn the patient to one side and loosen his clothes Health workers can educate families to involve their mentally kith and kin in work related or socializing activities by developing activity scheduling If psychotic patients refuse to eat food or drink water, it is best to ignore such patients Risk of relapse of mental illness is high in patients who abuse drugs like cannabis or amphetamines Hostile, critical and over involved families do good to mentally ill patients Health workers are expected to identify mentally ill, educate their families, refer such patients to the primary health centers and follow up patients regularly Acutely disturbed and uncooperative patients should be shifted to the nearest hospital as early as possible by using light physical restraints Very well educated and intelligent people can develop mental illness