A study to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching programme on knowledge regarding human rights of mentally ill among nursing students at selected nursing school, Jajpur

Abstract

Background: Mentally ill individuals are among the most vulnerable groups in society, often facing violations of their basic human rights. Nursing students, as future mental health professionals, play a key role in safeguarding these rights. Methods: A pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design was adopted. Thirty 1st-year GNM nursing students from Aradhya School of Nursing, Jajpur, were selected using convenience sampling. Knowledge was measured using a validated 20-item questionnaire. The intervention consisted of a structured teaching programme based on WHO and National Mental Health Act (1987) guidelines. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t- test, and chi-square test. Results: Pre-test knowledge levels were low: 56.7% had no knowledge, 30% had low knowledge, and none had high knowledge. Post-intervention, 60% achieved high knowledge scores, and no participants remained in the “no knowledge” category. The mean knowledge score increased from 5.83 (SD±3.57) to 15.5 (SD±3.35), with a mean difference of 9.67 (*t* = 2.10, p