Abstract: Physical health problems are a serious global issue among patients with
psychiatric disorders leading to increased risk of early mortality. The most important
causes related to unmet physical health needs are nurses' level of knowledge and
attitude toward physical health care. Aim: to assess nurses' knowledge and attitude
toward physical health care for patients with psychiatric disorders. Subjects: All
nurses who provide direct care to patients (90 nurses) were involved. Settings: The
study was conducted at the Inpatient Psychiatric Department in two settings; Tanta
University Hospital, and The Neurology, Psychiatry, and Neuro-Surgery Center, both
settings are affiliated to Ministry of High Education and Scientific Research. Study
design: A descriptive research design was utilized. Study tools: two tools were
used: Tool I: Structured questionnaire of nurses' knowledge about physical health
care for patients with psychiatric disorders, Tool II: The Physical Health Attitude
Scale (PHASe). Results: the study revealed that about half of the studied nurses had
moderate level of knowledge and more than one third of them had positive attitude
toward physical health care among patients with psychiatric disorders. There was
statistically significant positive correlation between nurses' knowledge and attitude
toward provision of physical health care among patients with psychiatric disorders.
Conclusion Based on the results of the present study it can be concluded that mental
health nurses' level of knowledge regarding provision of physical health care for
patients with psychiatric disorders positively correlated with their positive attitude.
Recommendations: Developing educational programs for enhancing level of
knowledge and attitude of nurses toward provision of physical health care among
patients with psychiatric disorders.