Background: Nurses' knowledge of legal and ethical aspects of healthcare is essential for all
nursing professionals because nurses are expected to be professionally competent, providing
high-quality care in an ethical manner.Aim: To assess the effectsof an educational
interventionon psychiatric nurses' knowledge regarding legal and ethical issues associated
with psychiatric patient treatment. Design:A quasi-experimental, single-group, pre-test–post
test design was used. Setting:Al-Abbasia Mental Health Hospital in Cairo, Egypt.Sample: A
convenience sample of 50 psychiatric nurses was recruited.Methods:Structured,self
administered knowledge questionnaire developed by the researchers was used to assess
psychiatric nurses' knowledge levels regarding legal and ethical responsibilities.Results:
Nurses' satisfactory knowledge before the intervention ranged between 4% for legal aspects
to 62% for violence and neglect. All areas of knowledge significantly improved after the
intervention, with satisfactory knowledge ranging between 76% for definitions to 98% for
neglect and unprofessional practices. Overall, only one (2%) nurse had satisfactory total
knowledge before the intervention, which increased to 90% after the intervention (p < 0.001).
Nurses' knowledge before the intervention was significantly and positively correlated with
their qualifications. After the intervention, knowledge correlated negatively with their age and
years of experience.Conclusion:The educational intervention was effective for improving
psychiatric nurses' knowledge of the legal and ethical issues associated with their practice.
Recommendations: This educational intervention is recommended for inclusion in the
orientation program for the hospital,and in-service education programs should be conducted
for nursing staff working in similar settings.