Eliciting users' views of ECT in two mental health trusts with a user-designed questionnaire

Background: Users' views of the process of ECT have not been systematically assessed in prospective studies. Aims: (i) To determine the ability of a questionnaire to quantify user satisfaction with ECT; (ii) to elicit users' views of the treatment process; and (iii) to compare findings across two mental health trusts. Method: A self-report questionnaire was designed by a mental health service user group and sent to all patients completing a course of bilateral ECT during the study period. Scored items covered preparation for treatment, information giving, consent and adverse effects. Non-scored items included questions on compulsion, previous ECT and intention to accept future treatment. Open-ended comments were invited and analysed qualitatively. Results: The response rate was 41%. Users having ECT for the first time and those reporting they would 'never have ECT again' had lower care satisfaction scores and higher adverse effect scores than those who had had ECT before and those who were prepared to have ECT again. Mean care satisfaction scores differed significantly between the two trusts but reported levels of adverse effects were similar, and high, in both. Conclusions: Prospective research with a user-designed scale may elicit more critical responses than clinician-designed scales used in previous studies. Declarations of Interest: None.