Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among undergraduate Nursing students toward depression management

Abstract

Background: Depression is a major mental-health condition requiring early recognition, appropriate assessment, therapeutic communication, and evidence-based management. Undergraduate nurses frequently encounter patients with depressive symptoms, making adequate knowledge, positive attitudes, and appropriate clinical practices essential for quality nursing care. Deficiencies in mental-health education and limited clinical exposure may affect students’ preparedness to manage depression. Aim: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices among undergraduate nursing students toward depression management at the College of Nursing, Superior University, Lahore. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate nursing students at the College of Nursing, Superior University, Lahore. The accessible population comprised 500 students. A sample of 218 participants was determined using the Raosoft sample size calculator. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding depression management. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied for data analysis. Results: The illustrative findings showed that 50.9% of participants had moderate knowledge, 31.2% had good knowledge, and 17.9% had poor knowledge. Positive attitudes were observed among 46.3% of participants, while 38.1% had neutral and 15.6% had negative attitudes. Practices were comparatively variable, with suicide-risk assessment representing a weaker domain. Previous mental health training and clinical experience were significantly associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Conclusion: The findings indicated a need to strengthen undergraduate nursing education through structured mental-health training, clinical exposure, simulation, therapeutic communication, and suicide-risk assessment to improve depression-management competencies.