Patient perspectives on barriers and enablers to the use and effectiveness of de-escalation techniques for the management of violence and aggression in mental health settings

Evaluation of a novel co-designed and co-delivered training package to de-escalate violence and aggression in UK acute inpatient, PICU and forensic mental health settings

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Clinical guidelines and staff training recommend using de-escalation over restrictive practices, such as restraint and seclusion Evidence suggests that restrictive practices continue to be used frequently despite training This suggests a lack of impact of existing staff de-escalation training. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The features of de-escalation training that are acceptable to staff and perceived to be impactful A co-designed and co-delivered training session on a trauma-informed approach to de-escalation on mental health wards was acceptable and perceived to be impactful Those attending training particularly valued how lived experience was incorporated into the training content and co-delivery The organizational and team context may need more consideration in adapting the training. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: De-escalation training that adopts a trauma-informed approach and considers the context of ward environments is acceptable to staff Co-delivery models of training to tackle restrictive practice can be acceptable and impactful Further research will show how clinically effective this training is in improving outcomes for service users in ward contexts.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests a discrepancy between recommended and routine practice in de-escalation in mental health settings, suggesting a lack of impact of existing training.

AIM

To investigate the acceptability and perceived impact of a co-designed/delivered training intervention on a trauma-informed approach to de-escalation on mental health wards.

METHODS

Trainees were invited to complete the Training Acceptability Rating Scale (TARS) post-training. Responses to the quantitative items were summarized using descriptive statistics, and open-text responses were coded using content analysis.

RESULTS

Of 214 trainees, 211 completed the TARS. The trainees rated the training favourably (median overall TARS = 55/63), as acceptable (median 33/36) and impactful (median 23/27). There were five qualitative themes: modules of interest; multiple perspectives; modes of delivery; moulding to context; and modifying other elements.

DISCUSSION

The EDITION training was found to be acceptable and impactful, with trainees particularly valuing the co-delivery model. Trainees suggested several ways in which the training could be improved, particularly around the need for further moulding of the intervention to the specific ward contexts/teams.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

We recommend co-designing and co-delivering staff training to mental health professionals that tackles restrictive practices.

RELEVANCE STATEMENT

This research is relevant to lived experience practitioners who want to be involved in training mental health professionals around restrictive practices, demonstrating the value and importance of their voice. It is relevant to current providers of de-escalation training, and to staff receiving training, outlining a novel, but acceptable and impactful, form of training on a key area of mental health practice. It is relevant to anyone with an interest in reducing restrictive practice via co-delivered training.

Co-designing restrictive practice elimination: A systems thinking approach with mental health service users and practitioners in rural/regional Australia

Elimination of restrictive practices (physical/mechanical restraint and seclusion) from adult acute mental health care services has been demanded internationally for many decades. This study aimed to: (1) Identify priority issues in the elimination of and use of alternative approaches to restrictive practices (seclusion and physical/mechanical restraint) in rural/regional acute adult mental healthcare services, as told by mental healthcare service users and practitioners, (2) identify the community-based, system-level feedback loops that enhance or reduce the use of restrictive practices and viable alternatives and, (3) identify potential action areas to improve system structures to increase regional mental healthcare services' ability to eliminate restrictive practices and use alternative approaches. Group model building (GMB) workshops were held with a small group (n = 9) of mental healthcare practitioners and service users with lived experience of restrictive practice use. This participatory approach enables exploration and visual mapping of local structures causing behaviour patterns of practitioner and service user concern over time - in this case, the barriers, and enablers to alternative approaches to restrictive practices in adult acute mental healthcare services within the Geelong-Barwon region. This is the first study that specifically applies GMB in the discussion of the elimination of restrictive practices in mental health in the non-metropolitan regional/rural context. Participants identified four key priorities in relation to eliminating restrictive practices: (1) self-advocacy, (2) continuity of care, (3) early intervention, and (4) safety for all. The study findings were distilled into a novel preliminary set of mental healthcare practitioner and service user action ideas.

Exploring safety culture within inpatient mental health units: The results from participant observation across three mental health services

In Australia, acute inpatient units within public mental health services have become the last resort for mental health care. This research explored barriers and facilitators to safe, person-centred, recovery-oriented mental health care in these settings. It utilised participant observations conducted by mental health nurses in acute inpatient units. These units were located in three distinct facilities, each serving different areas: a large metropolitan suburban area in a State capital, a mid-sized regional city, and a small city with a large rural catchment area. Our findings highlighted that, in the three inpatient settings, nurses tended to avoid common areas they shared with consumers, except for brief, task-related visits. The prioritisation of administrative tasks seemed to arise in a situation where nurses lacked awareness of alternative practices and activities. Consumers spent prolonged periods of the day sitting in communal areas, where the main distraction was watching television. Boredom was a common issue across these environments. The nursing team structure in the inpatient units provided a mechanism for promoting a sense of psychological safety for staff and were a key element in how safety culture was sustained.

Development and evaluation of a de-escalation training intervention in adult acute and forensic units: the EDITION systematic review and feasibility trial

Background

Containment (e.g. physical restraint and seclusion) is used frequently in mental health inpatient settings. Containment is associated with serious psychological and physical harms. De-escalation (psychosocial techniques to manage distress without containment) is recommended to manage aggression and other unsafe behaviours, for example self-harm. All National Health Service staff are trained in de-escalation but there is little to no evidence supporting training's effectiveness.

Objectives

Objectives were to: (1) qualitatively investigate de-escalation and identify barriers and facilitators to use across the range of adult acute and forensic mental health inpatient settings; (2) co-produce with relevant stakeholders an intervention to enhance de-escalation across these settings; (3) evaluate the intervention's preliminary effect on rates of conflict (e.g. violence, self-harm) and containment (e.g. seclusion and physical restraint) and understand barriers and facilitators to intervention effects.

Design

Intervention development informed by Experience-based Co-design and uncontrolled pre and post feasibility evaluation. Systematic reviews and qualitative interviews investigated contextual variation in use and effects of de-escalation. Synthesis of this evidence informed co-design of an intervention to enhance de-escalation. An uncontrolled feasibility trial of the intervention followed. Clinical outcome data were collected over 24 weeks including an 8-week pre-intervention phase, an 8-week embedding and an 8-week post-intervention phase.

Setting

Ten inpatient wards (including acute, psychiatric intensive care, low, medium and high secure forensic) in two United Kingdom mental health trusts.

Participants

In-patients, clinical staff, managers, carers/relatives and training staff in the target settings.

Interventions

Enhancing de-escalation techniques in adult acute and forensic units: Development and evaluation of an evidence-based training intervention (EDITION) interventions included de-escalation training, two novel models of reflective practice, post-incident debriefing and feedback on clinical practice, collaborative prescribing and ward rounds, practice changes around admission, shift handovers and the social and physical environment, and sensory modulation and support planning to reduce patient distress.

Main outcome measures

Outcomes measured related to feasibility (recruitment and retention, completion of outcome measures), training outcomes and clinical and safety outcomes. Conflict and containment rates were measured via the Patient-Staff Conflict Checklist. Clinical outcomes were measured using the Attitudes to Containment Measures Questionnaire, Attitudes to Personality Disorder Questionnaire, Violence Prevention Climate Scale, Capabilities, Opportunities, and Motivation Scale, Coercion Experience Scale and Perceived Expressed Emotion in Staff Scale.

Results

Completion rates of the proposed primary outcome were very good at 68% overall (excluding remote data collection), which increased to 76% (excluding remote data collection) in the post-intervention period. Secondary outcomes had high completion rates for both staff and patient respondents. Regression analyses indicated that reductions in conflict and containment were both predicted by study phase (pre, embedding, post intervention). There were no adverse events or serious adverse events related to the intervention.

Conclusions

Intervention and data-collection procedures were feasible, and there was a signal of an effect on the proposed primary outcome.

Limitations

Uncontrolled design and self-selecting sample.

Future work

Definitive trial determining intervention effects.

Trial registration

This trial is registered as ISRCTN12826685 (closed to recruitment).

Funding

This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 16/101/02) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 3. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Context

Conflict (a term used to describe a range of potentially unsafe events including violence, self-harm, rule-breaking, medication refusal, illicit drug and alcohol use and absconding) in mental health settings causes serious physical and psychological harm. Containment interventions which are intended to minimise harm from violence (and other conflict behaviours) such as restraint, seclusion and rapid tranquilisation can result in serious injuries to patients and, occasionally, death. Involvement in physical restraint is the most common cause of serious physical injury to National Health Service mental health staff in the United Kingdom. Violence to staff results in substantial costs to the health service in sickness and litigation payments. Containment interventions are also expensive (e.g. physical restraint costs mental health services £6.1 million and enhanced observations £88 million per annum). Despite these harms, recent findings indicate containment interventions such as seclusion and physical restraint continue to be used frequently in mental health settings. Clinical trials have demonstrated that interventions can reduce containment without increasing violence and other conflict behaviours (e.g. verbal aggression, self-harm). Substantial cost-savings result from reducing containment use. De-escalation, as an intervention to manage aggression and potential violence without restrictive practices, is a core intervention. 'De-escalation' is a collective term for a range of psychosocial techniques designed to reduce distress and anger without the need to use 'containment' interventions (measures to prevent harm through restricting a person's ability to act independently, such as physical restraint and seclusion). Evidence indicates that de-escalation involves ensuring conditions for safe intervention and effective communication are established, clarifying and attempting to resolve the patient's concern, conveyance of respect and empathy and regulating unhelpful emotions such as anxiety and anger. Despite featuring prominently in clinical guidelines and training policy domestically and internationally and being a component of mandatory National Health Service training, there is no evidence-based model on which to base training. A systematic review of de-escalation training effectiveness and acceptability conducted in 2015 concluded: (1) no model of training has demonstrated effectiveness in a sufficiently rigorous evaluation, (2) the theoretical underpinning of evaluated models was often unclear and (3) there has been inadequate investigation of the characteristics of training likely to enhance acceptability and uptake. Despite all National Health Service staff being trained in de-escalation there have been no high-quality trials evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of training. Feasibility studies are needed to establish whether it is possible to conduct a definitive trial that can determine the clinical, safety and cost-effectiveness of this intervention.

Experiencing restraint: A dialogic narrative inquiry from a service user perspective

In recent decades concerns about violence and programs for the minimization of physical restraint, amongst other restrictive practices, have proliferated within mental health policy and practice. Whilst nurses are often called upon when violence occurs within mental health care settings, they often find themselves having the conflicting roles of caring and controlling. Within such situations it is service users, who are experts by experience, who perhaps can offer more meaningful insight into being restrained and thus provide a more appropriate approach in dealing with mental distress. This paper presents the findings of a narrative study of individuals' experiences of physical restraint within the mental health care system. In total 11 mental health service users, who had experienced physical restraint, were interviewed. Frank's (2010, Letting stories breathe: a socio-narratology) guiding questions were used to undertake a dialogical narrative analysis of each story. For the purpose of this paper, four of the 11 stories are presented as these are representative of Frank's 'quest narrative'. However, whilst studies from the service user perspective regarding restraint are scarce, findings are discussed in relation to the grand narrative of restraint. The dialogical relationship between individual stories and the dominant grand narrative implies that the former has the capacity to shape and review the latter within mental health care. Adding to the growing body of evidence of restraint from service users' perspectives could enable nurses to provide more appropriate and meaningful mental health care in times of mental distress. [238].

Seclusion within the first 24 h following admission into inpatient mental health services and associations with referral pathways, recent service contact and HoNOS ratings

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Seclusion is a harmful and traumatising intervention for people accessing mental health services. People who are subject to seclusion in inpatient mental health services often first experience this within the first 24 h following admission. There is limited research examining how recent contact with services impacts the likelihood of seclusion when people are admitted to inpatient services. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Males, Māori and Pasifika experience higher rates of seclusion within the first 24 h following inpatient admission. People perceived by clinicians as overactive, aggressive, disruptive or agitated are seven times more likely to be secluded within the first 24 h. People referred from police or justice services are three times more likely to be secluded within the first 24 h. People who had frequent contact with community mental health services prior to inpatient admission were less likely to be secluded. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: The first 24 h of inpatient admission is a critical focus for eliminating the use of seclusion. Initial interactions with people recently admitted should focus on nurturing relationships and reducing distress. Mental health staff should consider the person's cultural needs, referral pathway, recent service contact and baseline ratings on the Health of the Nation Outcomes Scales (HoNOS) when working proactively to prevent the use of seclusion in the first 24 h following admission. Strengthening the focus on nurturing relationships, cultural understanding and non-coercive de-escalation approaches requires leadership support and strategic workforce development. ABSTRACT: Introduction People who experience seclusion in inpatient mental health services often do so within the first 24 h following admission. There is limited research examining the potential contributing factors, particularly recent contact with services. Aim/Question To identify factors associated with seclusion within the first 24 h following admission into acute inpatient mental health services. Method A retrospective analysis was undertaken using routinely collected data from Aotearoa New Zealand mental health services. Results A higher likelihood of seclusion within the first 24 h following admission was associated with: males, Māori, Pasifika, referrals from police/justice services, inpatient transfers, recent contact with crisis assessment teams and clinician perceptions of aggression, problematic substance use, cognitive problems and hallucinations or delusions. Recent contact with community mental health services was associated with a lower likelihood. Discussion People's cultural needs, referral pathway, recent service contact and HoNOS scores should be considered when working to prevent the use of seclusion in the first 24 h following admission. Implications for Practice The first 24 h following inpatient admission is a critical period for preventing the use of seclusion. Nurturing relationships, cultural understanding and use of non-coercive de-escalation approaches can support better outcomes for people recently admitted.

Mental Healthcare workers' experiences in managing psychiatric patients' aggression in Maseru

Background

Aggression and violence in psychiatric clinical facilities are a common case, and mental healthcare workers utilise various management strategies to combat it. It is therefore crucial for mental healthcare workers to acquire skills for the management strategies of aggressive behaviour of psychiatric patients.

Aim

The aim of the study was to describe mental healthcare workers' experiences in the management strategies of aggressive and violent behaviour by psychiatric patients in Maseru district.

Setting

A psychiatric hospital situated to the south in Maseru in the rural countryside and general hospital located in the western lowlands of Lesotho in the village of Morija were used.

Methods

This study adopted a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design. There were two focus group interviews conducted per clinical facility, which consisted of six members in each group. There were four participants for individual interviews from psychiatric clinical facility and three individual interviews from general clinical facility.

Results

Thematic analysis of the data resulted in themes and sub-themes. These were psychological intervention strategy, physical strategy, chemical strategy, empowerment strategy and policy strategy. Participants viewed various management strategies of aggressive and violent behaviour of psychiatric patients they utilise in clinical facilities as effective.

Conclusion

The mental healthcare workers' experiences in managing aggression and violent behaviour of psychiatric patients were expression of psychological, physical, chemical, empowerment and policy strategies.

Contribution

The study will enhance the knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding management strategies that mental healthcare workers can utilise in managing aggressive and violent behaviour of psychiatric patients.

Nurses' use of pro re nata medication in adult acute mental healthcare settings: An integrative review

This integrative review explores the current pro re nata (PRN) medication practice in acute adult mental health settings. PRN medication is commonly used in acute mental health settings but there is lack of evidence of effectiveness of this practice. PRN medications have a number of adverse effects and increase the risk of morbidity in patients with a mental illness. Articles were identified from MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science database. The STROBE critical appraisal tool was used to evaluate the quality of evidence, and inductive thematic analysis was used to extract main themes. Five themes regarding prescription practices, poor documentation, reasons to administer, medication misuse, and insufficient use of non-pharmacological interventions emerged among the 12 eligible articles. The study identified PRN medication practice gaps in adult mental health settings included insufficient documentation practice, underuse of therapeutic non-pharmacological interventions, and significant variability in PRN medication practice across the mental health professionals due to different levels of knowledge and experience.

Forensic mental health nurses' experiences of rebuilding the therapeutic relationship after an episode of physical restraint in forensic services in Ireland: A qualitative study

Few studies have explored how forensic mental health nurses can rebuild the therapeutic relationship following an episode of physical restraint in the acute forensic setting. In this study, we aimed to redress this gap in the literature by exploring with forensic mental health nurses the factors that enable or hinder the rebuilding of the therapeutic relationship following an episode of physical restraint. A qualitative study design was used to capture participants' experiences, views and perceptions of the therapeutic relationship following an episode of physical restraint in the acute forensic setting. Data were collected through individual interviews with forensic mental health nurses (n = 10) working in an acute forensic setting. Interviews were audio recorded, and transcribed verbatim and accounts were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: 'Building a Recovery Focused Therapeutic Relationship'; 'Authoritarian Role'; 'Inevitable Imbalance'; 'Rebuilding the Therapeutic Relationship'; plus two sub-themes 'Facilitators to rebuilding' and 'Barriers to rebuilding'. Findings suggest that an inevitable imbalance exists in building a recovery-focused therapeutic relationship and at times, is hindered by the authoritarian role of the forensic mental health nurse. Recommendations for changes in clinical practice and in upcoming policies should incorporate a dedicated debrief room and protected time for staff to debrief effectively following restraint. Routine post-restraint-focused clinical supervision would also be beneficial to mental health nursing staff.

Conceptual and practical challenges associated with understanding patient safety within community-based mental health services

INTRODUCTION

Patient safety problems stemming from healthcare delivery constitute a global public health concern and represent a pervasive barrier to improving care quality and clinical outcomes. However, evidence generation into safety in mental health care, particularly regarding community-based mental health services, has long fallen behind that of physical health care, forming the focus of fewer research publications and developed largely in isolation from the wider improvement science discipline. We aimed to investigate the state of the field, along with key conceptual and empirical challenges to understanding patient safety in community-based mental health care.

METHODS

A narrative review surveyed the literature to appraise the conceptual obstacles to advancing the science of patient safety in community-based mental health services. Sources were identified through a combination of a systematic search strategy and targeted searches of theoretical and empirical evidence from the fields of mental health care, patient safety and improvement science.

RESULTS

Amongst available evidence, challenges in defining safety in the context of community mental health care, evaluating safety in long-term care journeys and establishing what constitutes a 'preventable' safety problem, were identified. A dominant risk management approach to safety in mental health care, positioning service users as the origin of risk, has seemingly prevented a focus on proactive safety promotion, considering iatrogenic harm and latent system hazards.

CONCLUSION

We propose a wider conceptualization of safety and discuss the next steps for the integration and mobilization of disparate sources of 'safety intelligence', to advance how safety is conceived and addressed within community mental health care.

PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

This paper was part of a larger research project aimed at understanding and improving patient safety in community-based mental health care. Although service users, carers and healthcare professionals were not involved as part of this narrative review, the views of these stakeholder groups were central to shaping the wider research project. For a qualitative interview and focus group study conducted alongside this review, interview topic guides were informed by this narrative analysis, designed jointly and piloted with a consultation group of service users and carers with experience of community-based mental health services for working-age adults, who advised on key questioning priorities.

Spanish mental health nurses' experiences of mechanical restraint: A qualitative descriptive study

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Mechanical restraint is a common practice in mental healthcare settings in Spain, despite controversy. Mechanical restraint is perceived as a negative experience for nurses and service users. Mechanical restraint damages the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship, which is essential in providing quality care and promoting recovery. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The negative experiences of service users and mental health nurses arising from use of mechanical restraint affects both parties involved and results in trauma. Using mechanical restraint can provoke a moral injury in mental health nurses which can negatively impact on the establishment of trust within the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Nurses must be aware of the negative effects that mechanical restraint use has on both their practice and their day-to-day lives. Post-mechanical restraint debriefing is required to repair the damage to the trust aspect of the nurse-patient relationship. Involving service users in co-producing a debriefing framework may be a way to rebuild trust through constructive dialogue.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Mechanical restraint is an intervention that causes harm to service users and nurses, yet continues to be used in many countries, including Spain. However, there is a lack of research exploring Spanish mental health nurses' experiences of using mechanical restraint.

AIM

To describe the experiences of mental health nurses who have used mechanical restraint in practice.

METHODS

A qualitative descriptive methodology was used and a purposive sample of 10 Spanish mental health nurses were interviewed about their experiences of using mechanical restraint. Thematic analysis was then employed to analyse interview data.

RESULTS

Participants' experiences of using mechanical restraint were mostly negative. Three main themes arose from the analysis of interview transcripts, (i) symmetrical trauma, (ii) moral injury and (iii) broken trust.

DISCUSSION

The use of restrictive practices, which can be perceived as counter-therapeutic, exposes nurses to risks such as moral injury and service users to broken trust in the therapeutic nurse patient relationship. Avoiding empathy in order to use mechanical restraint is counterproductive, in the understanding that empathy is key to reducing this intervention.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Reducing or eliminating use of mechanical restraints should be a policy and practice priority due to the symmetrical harms it causes both nurses and service users. The trust aspect of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship is a significant casualty when mechanical restraint is used, therefore involving service users in co-production of post-mechanical restraint debriefing can be an avenue for restoring this trust through dialogue.

Nurses' attitudes towards the use of physical restraint in psychiatric care: A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Application of physical restraint is a common practice to protect service users and staff in psychiatric care. Nurses' attitudes towards physical restraint and its influencing factors in psychiatric settings in different countries are variable. Previous reviews include studies on different coercive methods, making it difficult to differentiate attitudes specific to physical restraint. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Nurses' attitudes were marked by negative feelings and moral conflict towards the use of physical restraint and consider it a necessary nursing intervention and a last resort. The barriers for restraint-free environment practice included contextual demand, lack of knowledge on restraint and lack of alternatives to restraint. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Nurse educators should develop and evaluate related educational training programmes to promote the development of alternative effective skills in handling violence instead of physical restraint. Policy makers should develop strategies to remove the barriers to a restraint-free environments. ABSTRACT: Introduction Physical restraint is common in psychiatric care; nurses' attitudes are crucial as nurses often implement the procedure. Previous reviews include studies exploring coercive methods but do not specifically focus on physical restraint. Aims This integrated mixed-method systematic review aimed to examine nurses' attitudes towards the use of physical restraint in psychiatric care and the factors influencing these attitudes. Methods Six databases were searched from 2000 to 2021. Thematic integrative analysis was used to synthesize the data. Results Ten studies were included. Five themes encapsulate nurses' attitudes towards physical restraint: "emotional responses," "moral conflicts," "ensuring safety for all," "a necessary nursing intervention" and "a last resort." Three themes were identified for factors influencing attitudes: "contextual demands," "level of knowledge" and "alternatives to restraint." Discussion Nurses' attitudes were marked by negative feelings and moral conflict towards the use of physical restraint. However, nurses applied physical restraint as an ordinary nursing intervention. Educational interventions and the leadership role may facilitate the change of current practice to a restraint-free environment. Implications for Practice Mental health nurses should work to remove the barriers to restraint-free environment and develop effective skills that can be used as alternatives to physical restraint.

Investigating the impact of cognitive bias in nursing documentation on decision-making and judgement

The clinical documentation of patients' mental status, behaviour and functioning is a fundamental aspect of inpatient mental health care. It is an important source of information-sharing with the interprofessional team and used by other clinicians within the circle of care to guide their decision-making process. Given the body of evidence highlighting concerns about the quality of nursing documentation and the growing literature demonstrating the presence of bias in healthcare, it is critically important that we examine the impact of this bias in nursing practice. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether clinical decisions and judgements change when nurses read documentation that is either biased or neutral. Using a quantitative, observational study that used surveys to collect data, participants were exposed to two patient vignettes and six clinical notes associated with each patient (notes were written with either biased or neutral language) and asked to make clinical decisions and judgements. Results from 199 nurse participants from a tertiary mental health hospital revealed a notable relationship between the type of notes read (biased vs. neutral) and clinical practice, namely, participants reading biased notes were less likely to offer health teaching when administering pro re nata (PRN) medication for sleep. We also found differences in decision-making and judgements based on the type of note read depending on years of experience and type of education. The results indicate that biased language in nursing documentation can influence other clinicians' decisions and judgements about patients, thereby indicating a cascade of bias.

Relationship between nurses' use of verbal de-escalation and mechanical restraint in acute inpatient mental health care: a retrospective study

Although the use of verbal de-escalation in nursing has been shown to be an effective tool for controlling agitation and avoiding mechanical restraint, there is scarce evidence supporting the use of de-escalation by nurses and factors related to the patients who ultimately receive mechanical restraint. This retrospective study sought to examine the relationship between the use of verbal de-escalation by nurses and the clinical profile of patients who had received mechanical restraint at an acute mental health unit. This study analysed the records of patients who had received mechanical restraint between the years 2012 and 2019. A bivariate analysis was initially performed, followed by multiple logistic regression analysis. A total of 493 episodes of restraint were recorded. Of these, in almost 40% of cases, no prior use of verbal de-escalation was noted. The factors associated with the use of verbal de-escalation by nurses were patients with a history of restraint episodes and patients who previously had been administered medication. Furthermore, episodes of mechanical restraint that occurred later during the admission were also associated with the use of de-escalation. These findings confirm the relevance of early nurse interventions. Consequently, it is important to establish an adequate therapeutic relationship from the start of hospitalization to facilitate getting to know the patient and to enable the timely use of verbal de-escalation, thus avoiding the use of mechanical restraint.

A Quality Improvement Project to Reduce Events of Visitor Escalation in the Intensive Care Nursery

BACKGROUND

Escalating and aggressive visitor behaviors have become increasingly common in healthcare settings nationally, negatively impacting staff and patients alike. Most healthcare providers do not innately possess the specific skills to manage such behaviors. Management of escalating and aggressive behaviors presents a particularly bedeviling challenge when staff safety must be balanced with the needs of parent-neonate bonding.

PURPOSE

In the Intensive Care Nursery (ICN), the frequency of aggressive and hostile incidents from visitors increased such that the staff felt frustrated by and uneasy about their work environment.

METHODS

The ICN convened an interprofessional team to strategize interventions aimed at consistently managing aggressive behavior and supporting the staff after aggressive and/or hostile visitor encounters.

FINDINGS

Following staff education and training, the unit launched a de-escalation management algorithm in July 2018 that assisted in identifying high-risk families at admission and drove consistent action and management of all visitor behaviors. In the 12 months following the intervention, the frequency of behavioral escalation decreased by 75% and staff perception of safety increased by 25%.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Collaborating with staff to design consistent strategies to manage aggressive and escalating visitor behavior can improve safety and improve employee satisfaction in the ICN.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

Additional research on the effectiveness of the algorithm in other ICNs and alternative areas of practice is needed. Furthermore, validation of a staff perception survey measuring the impact of escalating visitor behaviors on employees would be an important next step in this research.Video abstract available athttps://journals.lww.com/advancesinneonatalcare/Pages/videogallery.aspx?autoPlay=false&videoId=43.

Social inclusion and violence prevention in psychiatric inpatient care. A qualitative interview study with service users, staff members and ward managers

Background

Many psychiatric services include social inclusion as a policy with the aim to offer users the opportunity to participate in care and to form reciprocal relationships. The aim of this study was to explore opportunities and problems with regard to participation, reciprocity and social justice that different stakeholders experience when it comes to social inclusion for service users and minimizing violence in psychiatric inpatient care.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were performed with 12 service users, 15 staff members, and six ward managers in three different kinds of psychiatric wards in Sweden. The data were analyzed using the framework method and qualitative content analysis, which was based on the three following social inclusion values: participation, reciprocity, and social justice.

Results

Themes and subthemes were inductively constructed within the three social inclusion values. For participation, staff and ward managers reported difficulties in involving service users in their care, while service users did not feel that they participated and worried about what would happen after discharge. Staff gave more positive descriptions of their relationships with service users and the possibility for reciprocity. Service users described a lack of social justice, such as disruptive care, a lack of support from services, not having access to care, or negative experiences of coercive measures. Despite this, service users often saw the ward as being safer than outside the hospital. Staff and managers reported worries about staffing, staff competence, minimizing coercion and violence, and a lack of support from the management.

Conclusions

By applying the tentative model on empirical data we identified factors that can support or disrupt the process to create a safe ward where service users can feel socially included. Our results indicate that that staff and service users may have different views on the reciprocity of their relationships, and that users may experience a lack of social justice. The users may, due to harsh living conditions, be more concerned about the risk of violence in the community than as inpatients. Staff and ward managers need support from the management to foster a sense of community in the ward and to implement evidence-based prevention programs.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-07178-6.

Comparison of patients' and staff's perspectives on the causes of violence and aggression in psychiatric inpatient settings: An integrative review

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Aggression and violence are persistent problems in psychiatric inpatient units. Violence preventive factors have been identified from both staff's and patients' perspectives. Violent and aggressive inpatient incidents have not been adequately explained in research and reviews to date. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This review is novel in that it provides a comparison of patients' and staff's perspectives and identified that these differ and were influenced by factors attributable to the inpatient culture. The one contributory factor both agreed upon was the role of staff's interpersonal skills in either exacerbating or de-escalating aggression and violence. The inpatient culture was found to engender differing perceptions of most contributory factors to violence and aggression. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: While staff's interpersonal skills were identified as a primary influence on whether their interaction with patients contributed to aggression and violence, this was shaped by the inpatient environment's culture. Patient-centred interactional skills need to focus on the patients' needs for respect and active participation rather than engendering feelings of disrespect or coercion. Patient-centred communication skills that demonstrate an understanding of the patient's experience in the inpatient environment need to be core skills for mental health nurses. ABSTRACT: Introduction High rates of aggression and violence are a persistent problem in inpatient mental health environments. A comparison of staff's and patients' perceptions of the causes may provide novel insights. Aim This review aimed to compare patients' and staff's perspectives on the causes of aggression and violence in inpatient environments. Method An integrative review of the literature was conducted with a search of Ovid (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO) databases and manual searching. Results Thirty articles met criteria for inclusion. Interactions prior to aggressive or violent incidents were characterized by patients as disrespectful and coercive, and by staff as indicative of the patient's mental state or personality. Both groups identified the importance of patient-centred communication skills. Discussion The review identified that patients and staff have differing perspectives on the causes of violence and aggression. There was an interactional dynamic between staff and patients that was shaped by the culture of the inpatient setting. Implications for Practice Understanding how the inpatient culture plays a role in shaping a dynamic between patients and staff and developing communication skills that acknowledge this may help reduce violence and aggression in inpatient settings.

[Do we Choose the Right Measures to Avoid Coercion? - A Survey of Service Users who Experienced Coercion About Potentially Helpful Milder Measures]

AIM

We investigated which milder measures service users perceive as helpful to prevent coercive measures and in which extent these measures are offered.

METHODS

A sample of 155 former service users who experienced coercion was recruited and questioned via online or paper pencil survey.

RESULTS

On average, participants reported to have received 4.7 from a total of 25 milder measures. The measures, which where most frequent rated as potentially helpful where "crisis talks", "considering needs" and "showing interest". The analysis showed a negative relation between the frequency of offered measures and the frequency these measures where rated as potentially helpful. 86 % of the participants reported low satisfaction with treatment overall.

CONCLUSION

It seems, that in escalating situations service users do not receive the measures they perceive as helpful. In order to prevent the use of coercive measures staff members should focus on crisis talks and a need-orientated, empathic interaction.

Positive risk management: Staff perspectives in acute mental health inpatient settings

AIMS

To explore inpatient staff's understanding and implementation of positive risk management.

BACKGROUND

Risk management is an essential skill for staff working in acute mental health inpatient settings. National policies advocate the use of positive risk management as a form of collaborative, recovery-focused risk management. However, little is known about how staff understand, operationalize, and use positive risk management in practice.

DESIGN

Qualitative reflexive thematic analysis study.

METHODS

The authors recruited a purposive sample of healthcare professionals working in acute inpatient settings (N = 16) in 2019 across three National Health Service Trusts in the North-West of England. Participants completed semi-structured interviews which were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The analysis generated three themes: (a) within staff barriers; (b) within service user barriers; and (c) delivery in practice.

CONCLUSION

Understanding and implementation of positive risk management was dependant on multiple factors, including staffs' beliefs about mental health, levels of worry and anxiety, and amount of experience and seniority. Staff were more likely to use positive risk management with service users that they perceived as being trustworthy and less risky. Use of positive risk management was reliant on the support practitioners received, how able they were to view situations from multiple perspectives, and the degree to which they felt able to prioritize positive risk management.

IMPACT

Although staff expressed the desire and intention to practice positive risk management, the current study highlights challenges around operationalization and implementation. The authors discuss the clinical implications of the findings.

Correlates of Patient Satisfaction in Psychiatric Inpatient Care: A Survey Study from a Tertiary Hospital in Turkey

In the current study, a questionnaire to evaluate satisfaction levels and related factors upon discharge was completed by 100 patients receiving care for mental illness in a tertiary care hospital in Turkey. The relationships among sociodemographic variables, nonpharmacological interventions, and participants' views about the treatment course and quality of care they received were investigated. Overall satisfaction levels of participants were good. Older participants reported more positive opinions. Involuntary hospitalization, use of restraints/seclusion, or electroconvulsive therapy did not change overall satisfaction. Participants who were hospitalized for the first time were more afraid of other patients, which may imply that this population needs special care from the treatment team. Spending an adequate amount of time and providing necessary information about their treatment plan impact patients' treatment experience positively. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 59(4), 38-47.].

Use of coercion prevention tools in Finnish psychiatric wards

Inpatient violence is a widespread problem in psychiatric wards and has often serious consequences. Literature indicates that de-escalation techniques are the recommended first-line intervention for managing violence, are widely used to reduce it, and restrictive practices in mental health settings. However, these techniques and models are not used at the optimum frequency and/or important factors are limiting their use and effectiveness. We aimed to determine what kind of de-escalation methods are used to reduce violence and coercion in Finnish psychiatric hospitals. Descriptive qualitative research using semi-structured questionnaires and Framework Analysis was used. The results of the study are reported in quantitative terms. A survey of psychiatric wards (N = 65) in Finland's hospital districts (n = 16) was conducted in the Autumn of 2019 to find out which de-escalation models are used. Finnish psychiatric wards use both the Safewards and Six Core Strategies models to reduce violence and the use of restrictive practices. Half of the hospitals used interventions and strategies from both models. Violence preventive methods are widely used in mental health settings in Finland. These interventions and models cover the organization, leadership, and patient perspectives to improve safety and decrease coercion actions in psychiatric wards.

Exploring staff conceptions of prevention and management practices in encounters with staff-directed aggression in supported housing following education and training

Background

Staff-directed aggression is a concern for service providers in mental healthcare, frequently affecting both the quality of services and staff wellbeing. This also applies to supported housing services for people with mental health problems. Staff themselves consider training to be an important route to improve the prevention and management of staff-directed aggression. The aims of this study are to explore how staff in community mental health supported housing services conceptualize practice in prevention and management of aggression and how these conceptions develop following a local education and training endeavor in disempowerment-sensitive, de-escalating and knowledge-based risk assessment and management.

Method

Phenomenography, a qualitative research approach, was adopted to pursue the study aims. The data consisted of 26 semi-structured interviews with 13 participants from five different municipal housing facilities in Oslo, Norway. Participants were interviewed on two occasions, once prior to participation and once subsequent to the finalization of the education and training sessions.

Results

The analysis led to the development of six qualitatively different, yet logically interrelated, categories of description regarding practice in encounters with staff-directed aggression: (1) Observation, alertness and awareness, (2) Established understanding and knowledge of service users, (3) Team-based risk management and deliberation, (4) Adaption of own dispositions and behaviors, (5) Reflexivity, sensitivity and care and (6) Involvement and dialogue. These conceptions were found to vary in meaning and focus; they ranged from implementing safeguarding and protective measures, to drawing on what was portrayed in terms of staff’s expert knowledge, to increasingly allowing for, and committing to, tenant perspectives in designing practice. The results indicate a moderate, yet beneficial, effect of the course on conceptual change in the participants.

Conclusion

This study shows that practice in encounters with staff-directed aggression is conceptualized as complex and multifaceted by staff in mental health supported housing services and that the various conceptions have different implications for the way staff-directed aggression is mitigated individually and collectively. Our findings also suggest that it is beneficial to take conceptual variation regarding practice into consideration when devising education and training aimed at enhancing staff knowledge, skills and practices.

Seclusion, restraint, and involuntary medication in Finnish psychiatric care: a register study with root-level data

Purpose: Despite potentially harmful effects, seclusion, restraint, and involuntary medication continue to be frequently applied in psychiatric care. These restrictive measures are often examined by means of registers, but homogeneous practices in the measurement and description seem to be missing. This nationwide register study aimed to examine the use of seclusion, mechanical and physical restraint, and involuntary medication in Finland.Material and methods: Root-level register data concerning the year 2017 were collected directly from 140 inpatient psychiatric wards within 21 organizations. The data were analyzed statistically.Results: In 2017, the most used restrictive measure in Finnish psychiatric wards was seclusion (4006 episodes), followed by involuntary medication (2187 episodes), mechanical restraint (2113 episodes) and physical restraint (1064 events). Similarly, the duration of seclusion episodes was longer than the duration of restraint episodes. Remarkable variation between wards in the use of seclusion, restraint and involuntary medication was observable. A negative binomial regression model (NB2) was used to analyze the associations between the use of restrictive measures and regional variables concerning demography, health, substance abuse, and socio-economic status, but reliable interpretations were impossible to generate.Conclusion: This study provides detailed and unique data on the use of seclusion, restraint and involuntary medication in Finland. Compared to previous national-level data, this study highlights the importance of collecting root-level data. Future research should use registries and describe the associations between the use of restrictive measures and ward-level factors, patient-level characteristics, and societal factors.

Violence and aggression in psychiatric inpatient care in Sweden: a critical incident technique analysis of staff descriptions

BACKGROUND

Violence towards staff working in psychiatric inpatient care is a serious problem. The aim of the present study was to explore staff perspectives of serious violent incidents involving psychiatric inpatients through the following research questions: Which factors contributed to violent incidents, according to staff? How do staff describe their actions and experiences during and after violent incidents?

METHODS

We collected data via a questionnaire with open-ended questions, and captured 283 incidents reported by 181 staff members from 10 inpatient psychiatric wards in four different regions. We used the Critical Incident Technique to analyse the material. Our structural analysis started by structuring extracts from the critical incidents into descriptions, which were grouped into three chronological units of analyses: before the incident, during the incident and after the incident. Thereafter, we categorised all descriptions into subcategories, categories and main areas.

RESULTS

Staff members often attributed aggression and violence to internal patient factors rather than situational/relational or organisational factors. The descriptions of violent acts included verbal threats, serious assault and death threats. In addition to coercive measures and removal of patients from the ward, staff often dealt with these incidents using other active measures rather than passive defence or de-escalation. The main effects of violent incidents on staff were psychological and emotional. After violent incidents, staff had to continue caring for patients, and colleagues provided support. Support from managers was reported more rarely and staff expressed some dissatisfaction with the management.

CONCLUSIONS

As a primary prevention effort, it is important to raise awareness that external factors (organisational, situational and relational) are important causes of violence and may be easier to modify than internal patient factors. A secondary prevention approach could be to improve staff competence in the use of de-escalation techniques. An important tertiary prevention measure would be for management to follow up with staff regularly after violent incidents and to increase psychological support in such situations.

Patient safety in inpatient mental health settings: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Patients in inpatient mental health settings face similar risks (eg, medication errors) to those in other areas of healthcare. In addition, some unsafe behaviours associated with serious mental health problems (eg, self-harm), and the measures taken to address these (eg, restraint), may result in further risks to patient safety. The objective of this review is to identify and synthesise the literature on patient safety within inpatient mental health settings using robust systematic methodology.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-synthesis. Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Health Management Information Consortium, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science were systematically searched from 1999 to 2019. Search terms were related to 'mental health', 'patient safety', 'inpatient setting' and 'research'. Study quality was assessed using the Hawker checklist. Data were extracted and grouped based on study focus and outcome. Safety incidents were meta-analysed where possible using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Of the 57 637 article titles and abstracts, 364 met inclusion criteria. Included publications came from 31 countries and included data from over 150 000 participants. Study quality varied and statistical heterogeneity was high. Ten research categories were identified: interpersonal violence, coercive interventions, safety culture, harm to self, safety of the physical environment, medication safety, unauthorised leave, clinical decision making, falls and infection prevention and control.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient safety in inpatient mental health settings is under-researched in comparison to other non-mental health inpatient settings. Findings demonstrate that inpatient mental health settings pose unique challenges for patient safety, which require investment in research, policy development, and translation into clinical practice.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42016034057.

Refusing Medication Therapy in Involuntary Inpatient Treatment-A Multiperspective Qualitative Study

Objective: Between June 2012 and February 2013, two decisions by the German Federal Constitutional Court restricted the so-far common practice to use involuntary medication in inpatients who were involuntarily hospitalized. Up to then, involuntary medication was justified by a judge's decision on involuntary hospitalization. It could be applied according to clinical judgment even against the declared will of a patient. Since then, all domestic laws related to involuntary treatment had to be revised. For several months, involuntary medication was allowed only in an emergency. We were interested in the impact of the changed legal framework on the experiences of inpatients, their relatives, and clinical professionals during that time. Methods: Thirty-two interviews were analyzed qualitatively using a grounded theory methodology framework. Results: As a consequence of the restrictions to involuntary medication, special efforts by nursing and medical staff were required concerning de-escalation, ward management, and the promotion of treatment commitment in inpatients who refused medication. Family caregivers were also under strong pressure. They wanted to help and to protect their relatives, but some also welcomed the use of coercion if the patient refused treatment. Most of the interviewed patients had not even noticed that their rights to refuse medication had been strengthened. They complained primarily about the involuntary hospital stay and the associated limitations of their everyday lives. While patients and family members evaluated the refusal of medication from a biographical perspective, the mental health care professionals' focus was on the patients' symptoms, and they understood the situation from a professional perspective. It was obvious that, in any of the four perspectives, the problem of feeling restricted was crucial and that all groups strived to gain back their scope of action. Conclusion: The temporary ban on involuntary medication questioned the hitherto common routines in inpatient treatment, in particular when patients refused to take medication. Each of the different groups did not feel good about the situation, for different reasons, however. As a consequence, it might be indispensable to increase awareness of the different perspectives and to focus the efforts on the establishment of nonviolent treatment structures and practices.

Risk Factors and Triggers That May Result in Patient-Initiated Violence on Inpatient Psychiatric Units: An Integrative Review

The aim of the present integrative review is to identify and describe risk factors and triggers that may result in patient-initiated violence on inpatient psychiatric units. Original studies were searched for in PubMed, PsycINFO, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. From the 826 identified publications, 18 were included for a synthesis. The results are presented in three themes, which demonstrate that patient characteristics, staff approach, and the ward environment are influencers that may trigger the emergence of violent incidents. Incidents are discussed from the theoretical framework of complexity science as dynamic, highly variable in manifestation, and adaptive, in that the forthcoming process and outcomes are highly dependent on how the surrounding environment responds. Our recommendation is that staff on inpatient wards recognize the myriad influencers that may trigger inpatient violence in a context of highly complex interactions.

Preventing and managing challenging behaviour

Patients exhibiting challenging behaviour, which includes any non-verbal, verbal or physical behaviour, is a significant issue in healthcare settings. Preventing such behaviour and the harm it can cause is important for healthcare organisations and individuals, and involves following a public health model comprised of three tiers: primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Primary prevention aims to reduce the risk of challenging behaviour occurring in the first instance; secondary prevention involves reducing the risk associated with imminent challenging behaviour and its potential escalation; and tertiary prevention focuses on minimising the physical and emotional harm caused by challenging behaviours, during and after an event. De-escalation should be the first-line response to challenging behaviour, and healthcare staff should use a range of techniques - maintaining safety, self-regulation, effective communication, and assessment and actions - to reduce the incidence of challenging behaviour. In some situations, physical interventions may be required to protect the safety of the individual, healthcare staff and other individuals involved, and healthcare staff should be aware of local policies and procedures for this. Following a serious incident, where there was potential or actual harm to patients and healthcare staff, healthcare organisations should use post-incident reviews to learn from the situation, while healthcare staff should be offered the opportunity for debriefing. Positive responses to challenging behaviour at an organisational and individual level can lead to improved work environments for healthcare staff and optimal patient care and outcomes.