Examining Taiwanese psychiatric nurses' knowledge and confidence in case management.

BACKGROUND Psychiatric nurses in Taiwan are increasingly required to employ case management strategies for patients with severe mental illness. However, few studies have examined these nurses' knowledge of case management and identified their unmet educational needs. METHODS A national cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine psychiatric nurses' knowledge of case management and confidence in their case management skills. Structured questionnaires were distributed at an arranged time and using an electronic survey tool. Overall, 424 psychiatric nurses were recruited. RESULTS Participants' knowledge scores reflected substantial gaps (60% accuracy rate), particularly in basic concepts and case management processes. In addition, the nurses lacked confidence in applying their case management skills. The unmet educational needs of the nurses were related to the skills of assessing resource requirements, conducting referrals, collaborating with service providers, and linking patients to necessary resources. Additionally, 87% of the nurses had no previous education in case management. CONCLUSION Strategies for enhancing continuing education in case management are required to improve nurses' knowledge of case management, address their unmet educational needs, and prepare them to serve as case managers.