Knowledge Of Nursing Students On Psychotropic Drugs

KNOWLEDGE OF NURSING STUDENTS ON PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

• Background of the Study

The object of this study concerns the learning of the contents related to psychotropic drugs in undergraduate nursing courses. It is assumed that the teaching of these contents in schools seems to be restricted, in most cases, to the development of topics directly related to the treatment of mental problems, that is, to the use of psychotropic drugs for diagnosed psychological suffering.It is known, however, that the various uses of drugs – legal and illegal – cover a wide range of other dimensions, relating to social and health losses that reveal in essence the magnitude and complexity of the problem, the absence quality public social policies and the precariousness of the initiatives that are intended to be situated in the field of prevention (Soares 1997).

In Nigeria, young people are prone todrinking large quantity of alcohol. Also, with regard to the use of illicit drugs, the rate of abuse and patronage of such drugs is also high. Consistent smoking of tobacco is also found among Young people and the Nigerian population as a whole.Prevention, historically in Nigeria, has been characterized by the failure of the authorities to make practices suitable to the complexity that the process requires. Practices have followed the  ban on certain drugs such as tramadol, limiting themselves to repressive actions and favoring casuistic and inappropriate interventions based on repressive strategies condemned by national and international assessments.

The participation of nursing in the national and worldwide project for the prevention of drug use has been gradually expanded, notably with the advent of recent referrals coordinated by international agencies. The contents to be explored, to account for the social complexity that the drug use process involves, have been a matter of concern for nursing school teachers, constituting a central theme in a series of seminars that brought together those with experience with the theme.  A survey in showed the precarious knowledge of drugs acquired by nursing students and the vulnerability of teaching about chemical dependency in undergraduate nursing courses in Brazil in 1998 (Kakudda 1998; Ramos 2001).

In this sense, a diagnosis that deepens and details the deficiencies and needs related to the content of alcohol and drugs in nursing School isone of the tasks to be carried out by those involved in forwarding public social prevention policies, particularly with regard to undergraduate nursing School. The objective of this work is to characterize the learning situation of the contents about psychotropic drugs of nursing students during graduation.

1.2 Statement of the Problem 

This research is a descriptive study to assess the knowledge of students nurse regarding psychotropic drugs.The goal of the present study is to discuss the level of knowledge of student nurses in relation to psychotropic drugs. The study will contribute to the development of nursing students Knowledge on usage and administration of psychotropic drugs.The following questions will be addressed in this study:

• Research Questions

• What is the level of awareness of student nurses with regards to psychotropic drugs?
• What is the rateofusage of psychotropic drugs by student nurses?
• What is the view of nursing students on the fate of prescription of Psychotropic drugs after dispensing?

 

• Objectives of the Study

The goal of the present study is to assess the level of knowledge of student nurses regarding the use of psychotropic drugs. To find out the association of knowledge scores with selected socio demographic variables of  student nurses in relation to psychotropic drugs.

The specific objectives include:

• Determine the level of awareness of student nurses with regards to psychotropic drugs.
• Determine the rateof usage of psychotropic drugs by student nurses.
• Find out the view of nursing students on the fate of prescription of Psychotropic drugs after dispensing

1.5 Justification of the Study

Despite decades of attempts at controlling the use of psychotropic drugs by the dwindling populace, psychotropic drug use remains a major public health burden in the most countries, including Nigeria. The study was therefore designed to determine the level of knowledge of student nurses on psychotropic drugs.Through the  evaluation of  awareness of, use and effect of psychotropic drugsthe young and elderly population, the study will determine the level of awareness of nursing students on psychotropic drugs.

The study will also provide information which could help to address the problems affecting nursing students low level of knowledge of psychotropic drugs.

• Scope Of The Study

The scope of the study is limited to the level of knowledge of nursing students on psychotropic drugs in Nigeria. However, relevant literature obtained from other jurisdictions will be discussed.

 

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