Patient Reported Experience of Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT)

Abstract

Objective Negative attitudes towards Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) persist, despite the evidence of its clinical efficacy and benefits. This is partially due to negative media portrayals, inaccurate information and prohibitive consent processes. The aim of this study is to review patient ECT experience literature and report patients' perspective of their ECT experience. Methods A patient data and insight platform was employed to gain patient satisfaction and patient feedback statements of their experiences of ECT in an UK National Health Service (NHS) provider. Results Patients feel well informed, involved in decisions made about them, treated with dignity and respect, and treated well by the staff; and almost all patients would recommend the hospital delivering ECT. Findings show that interactions with staff have a positive effect on patient satisfaction and experience. Patients describe how ECT gave them their lives back again and prevented suicide attempts. Conclusion The study highlights the importance to patient's satisfaction and experience of staff's engagement, relaying information, friendliness, support, and compassion. The results provide information to both patients and prescribers regarding patient's experience of ECT. It is important to acknowledge that the patient experience of ECT literature identifies that patients frequently report memory loss.

Awareness and attitudes regarding electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among patients and caregivers at a psychiatry unit in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka

“…Some of the participants in this study were of the opinion that their mental illness would have worsened or that they would have died of they had not received ECT, and similar to this, a study done in the United Kingdom also reports patients describing how ECT "gave them their lives back again" (21). Just below half of the patients who had received ECT in the past in our study said they would be happy to receive it again if indicated, and a study done in the United Kingdom has also reported similar findings (21,22).…”

Patients’, Carers’, and the Public’s Perspectives on Electroconvulsive Therapy

“…In the majority of cases, patients who have undergone ECT report positive attitudes toward the treatment (18, 20, 24–26). An analysis of routinely collected anonymous ECT NHS patient feedback highlighted the importance of positive interactions with staff on perspectives, satisfaction, and experience (27). This NHS Trust feedback is made public, therefore providing information on patient’s experience of ECT to patients, caregivers, prescribers, and anyone else who chooses to read it; this is a model that can be replicated throughout the NHS.…”

Assessment of beliefs and attitudes about electroconvulsive therapy posted on Twitter: An observational study

“…Up to the date, the main methods to study public opinions and attitudes towards ECT have been "traditional", mainly including information from clinical trials and surveys and questionnaires administered during the medical consultation (18)(19)(20)(21). Those kinds of studies, particularly focused on people with lived experience and relatives, have been calling for new methods to more accurately approach opinions not only in those populations but also among the general public, healthcare professionals, media, and other social actors.…”