Knowledge of and attitudes towards electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among psychiatrists and family physicians in Saudi Arabia

• Published in: Annals of general psychiatry Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 16
• Main Authors: AlHadi, Ahmad N, AlShahrani, Fahad M, Alshaqrawi, Ali A, Sharefi, Mohanned A, Almousa, Saud M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central 28.02.2017
• Subjects: Primary Research; Saudi Arabia; Electroconvulsive therapy; Attitude; Family physician; ECT; Knowledge; Psychiatrist
• ISSN: 1744-859X; 1744-859X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12991-017-0139-1

To assess the knowledge of and attitudes towards ECT among psychiatrists and family physicians in Saudi Arabia. The study is quantitative observational cross-sectional with a convenient sample that included psychiatrists and family physicians (including residents) in Saudi Arabia. Of the 434 questionnaires emailed, a total of 126 returned completed questionnaires (29% response rate). The mean age of respondents was 35 years old. Psychiatrists accounted for 68.3%. The majority were Saudis (95.2%) and male (70.6%). Around half were consultants and about two-thirds (62.7%) had worked in a facility that used ECT. Psychiatrists showed better knowledge than family physicians in their answers, with a mean total knowledge scoring of 8.12 (±1.25) out of 10 and 6.15 (±1.25), respectively (  < 0.0001). Among psychiatrists, 87% thought that ECT required general anesthesia, while 35% of family physicians believed so (  < 0.0001). Other items of ECT knowledge are discussed. Psychiatrists displayed a better attitude towards ECT than family physicians in all answers, with a mean score of 9.54 (±1.16) and 7.85 (±2.39), respectively (  < 0.0001). Psychiatrists scored better than family physicians in both knowledge and attitude regarding ECT.