The Effects of Documentary and Psychiatric Interviewing Methods in Psychiatric Nursing Education

Negative attitudes towards mental illnesses are an important problem that negatively affects both the social lives of individuals and the effectiveness of health services. Addressing these prejudices, developing empathy and promoting a patient-centred care approach are key goals that can be achieved through clinical experiences and structured educational programmes for nursing students. This single-centre, single-blind, randomised controlled trial aims to examine the effects of documentaries and psychiatric interviews on nursing students' implicit associations, discriminatory attitudes and empathy skills towards mental illnesses. Within the scope of the study, nursing students working in a psychiatric ward will be divided into two groups: one group will work with documentaries including psychiatric interviews and patient narratives, while the other group will only conduct psychiatric interviews. The Implicit Association Test (IAT) and the Attitudes Towards Mental Patients Scale will be used to assess students' implicit associations and attitudes towards psychiatric patients, and the Jefferson Empathy Scale will assess their level of empathy. Data analysis will be performed using SPSS 25.0 software. Given the widespread stigmatisation of psychiatric patients, this study is expected to make a significant contribution to improving the quality of care provided by nursing students in psychiatric settings.

Discrimination and stigmatization towards psychiatric patients remain significant challenges, negatively impacting both individuals' quality of life and their access to healthcare services. These attitudes are not limited to the general public but are also observed among healthcare professionals, including nursing students. Such biases can affect the quality of care provided to psychiatric patients, as nursing students often perceive these individuals as aggressive or dangerous, leading to fear and hesitation in interacting with them. However, studies have shown that clinical placements and mental health education programs can reduce these negative attitudes by fostering empathy and understanding, supporting the development of a patient-centered care approach.

Psychiatric interviews and patient-centered documentaries are effective educational tools to address stigmatization and enhance empathy. Psychiatric interviews provide nursing students with structured opportunities to understand patients' biopsychosocial history, mental health needs, and coping strategies, fostering therapeutic communication skills. Similarly, documentaries featuring personal narratives of psychiatric patients help challenge stereotypes, promote empathy, and deepen students' understanding of mental illnesses. Research shows that combining such methods with academic content, concept mapping, and short films can significantly reduce stigmatization, improve social attitudes, and encourage inclusive practices in healthcare.

This study investigates how psychiatric nursing students' prejudices, discriminatory attitudes, and empathy skills towards mental illnesses can be improved through the use of psychiatric interviews and documentaries. By integrating these innovative approaches into nursing education, the study aims to reduce stigmatization, enhance empathy, and equip future healthcare professionals with the skills necessary to provide inclusive, high-quality care to psychiatric patients. This initiative ultimately seeks to contribute to the long-term improvement of mental health services and patient outcomes.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

(1) being a third-year undergraduate student; (2) doing clinical practice in an adult inpatient psychiatric ward; (3) showing normal cognitive functions; (4) having the ability to make sense of visual materials

Exclusion Criteria:

(1) being in clinical practice in community mental health centers and addiction treatment centers; (2) being in clinical practice in special education institutions; (3) having 80% or more absenteeism from clinical practice in adult inpatient psychiatric ward; (4) having 75% or more absenteeism from mental health and psychiatric nursing course; (5) having a psychiatric diagnosis and receiving active treatment