Using the Recovery Knowledge Inventory Scale (RKI) to Assess Nurses' Knowledge of a Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Care Approach: Findings from a Developing Country

Recovery-oriented mental health services are being implemented in various countries; however, health workers still need to understand the concept, highlighting the need for a standardized definition of recovery to translate it into practice. To implement recovery-oriented care, it is crucial for healthcare workers to understand it first. The Recovery Knowledge Inventory (RKI) tool has been widely used to measure understanding of recovery in different countries. Therefore, the aim was to assess nurses' knowledge of a recovery-oriented mental health care approach using the RKI.

The study utilized a cross-sectional quantitative design. One hundred and fifty-two (152) nurses consented to participate in the study. The RKI was used to assess knowledge of a recovery-oriented mental health care approach in four mental health facilities across Botswana. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Cronbach's alpha was used to test the reliability of the variables used in the study. Some variables that would compromise the overall reliability of the questionnaire were excluded. Following the reliability test, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to explore the possibility of factors describing recovery-oriented mental health care.

The sample included 81 (53.3%) female and 71 (46.7%) male nurses. The results indicated that after validity and reliability tests were conducted, and with some adjustments, the RKI was valid and reliable for assessing nurses’ knowledge of a recovery-oriented mental health care approach in Botswana. Although its reliability was average at Cronbach's alpha 0.6, it offered insight into how respondents perceived recovery. Most respondents (97%) agreed with the nonlinearity of recovery, while 84.9% strongly agreed or agreed that recovery from mental illness could be achieved by following a set of procedures. Overall, nurses in this study lacked orientation to recovery-oriented services.

There was a clear lack of knowledge of the recovery approach among the respondents. This study underscores the need for targeted training to improve nurses' understanding of recovery-oriented practices.