Features of everyday life in psychiatric inpatient care for self-harming: an observational study of six women

Adverse mental health inpatient experiences: Qualitative systematic review of international literature

BACKGROUND

Trauma has a well-established link with poor health outcomes. Adverse experiences in mental health inpatient settings contribute to such outcomes and should impact service design and delivery. However, there is often a failure to fully address these experiences.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the spectrum of negative experiences that people identify while they are inpatients in adult mental health services.

DESIGN

Qualitative systematic review of the international literature.

SETTING(S)

Inpatient mental health settings globally.

PARTICIPANTS

Analysis includes findings from 111 studies across 25 countries.

METHODS

CINAHL, MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched from 2000 onwards, supplemented by Google Scholar. Studies were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative checklist. Data were synthesised using the 'best-fit' framework synthesis approach, enriched by patient and public involvement.

RESULTS

Adverse mental health inpatient experiences can be conceptualised under three headings: the ecosystem (the physical environment and the resources available, and other people within or influential to that environment); systems (processes and transitions); and the individual (encroachments on autonomy and traumatisation).

CONCLUSIONS

This paper highlights the interplay between systemic, environmental and individual factors contributing to adverse experiences in mental health inpatient settings. By recognising and addressing these factors, we can significantly enhance patient outcomes. Application of adversity to Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory provides a strategic approach to improving service design and delivery, advocating for environments that prioritise patient safety, dignity and respect. However, further research is needed to validate the framework and effectively integrate these insights into practice, ultimately transforming the inpatient care experience for all stakeholders.

REGISTRATION

The review was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42022323237).

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Review suggests traumatic experiences in mental health inpatient settings can worsen outcomes. Urges redesign of environment, processes and autonomy to improve care @dr_nutmeg @EmxEn @RAVresearchUoB @IMH_UoB.

Being Open to a Process of Learning: The Meaning of Joint Activities With Patients as Narrated by Nursing Staff in Psychiatric Inpatient Care

Forming therapeutic relationships is considered important within psychiatric and mental health nursing. One way of achieving this is through social interaction when engaging in joint activities. However, introducing and using nursing interventions based on joint activities in psychiatric inpatient care has proven challenging. Since staff motivation is important, researching the meaning of engaging in joint activities from the nursing professional's point of view can provide information that is relevant in this area. This study aims to illuminate the meaning of participating in joint activities with patients as narrated by nursing professionals in psychiatric inpatient care. Narrative interviews with 14 nursing professionals with experience from psychiatric inpatient care were conducted. Data were analysed using phenomenological hermeneutics and reported following the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines. Results illuminate that engaging in joint activities means being open to a process of learning. Four themes contributed to this understanding: Struggling with uncertainty, discovering aspects of the other, unfolding paths to self-fulfilment and sharing personhood. Being open to a process of learning means being willing to face uncertainty when engaging in activities as well as being open to learning about oneself as well as the other. Through openness to this process of learning, a sharing of personhood can be achieved, where the nursing professional and the patient approach becoming two persons. Illuminating the meaning of joint activities from the nursing professionals' perspective may provide valuable insights related to introducing and using interventions focusing on joint activities.

Recovery at an Adult Psychiatric Day Hospital-A Qualitative Interview Study Describing Patients' Experiences

Psychiatric Day Hospitals offer time-limited active treatment programmes that are therapeutically intensive, coordinated, and with structured clinical services within a stable environment. No previous studies have described patients' experiences of recovery-oriented care at a Psychiatric Day Hospital in a Swedish or Nordic healthcare context. The aim of the study was to explore patients' experiences of a Psychiatric Day Hospital with focus on patient recovery. A qualitative method was used; 12 in-depth interviews were performed with patients all analysed with content analysis. The theme that emerged was "A safe haven." To do something routinely and meaningful during the days, feelings of security, and to gain increased knowledge about mental ill health were concepts which felt important and contributed to recovery. Feelings of belonging and prevention of loneliness were also highlighted.

Psychometric Assessment of an Item Bank for Adaptive Testing on Patient-Reported Experience of Care Environment for Severe Mental Illness: Validation Study

BACKGROUND

The care environment significantly influences the experiences of patients with severe mental illness and the quality of their care. While a welcoming and stimulating environment enhances patient satisfaction and health outcomes, psychiatric facilities often prioritize staff workflow over patient needs. Addressing these challenges is crucial to improving patient experiences and outcomes in mental health care.

OBJECTIVE

This study is part of the Patient-Reported Experience Measure for Improving Quality of Care in Mental Health (PREMIUM) project and aims to establish an item bank (PREMIUM-CE) and to develop computerized adaptive tests (CATs) to measure the experience of the care environment of adult patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder.

METHODS

We performed psychometric analyses including assessments of item response theory (IRT) model assumptions, IRT model fit, differential item functioning (DIF), item bank validity, and CAT simulations.

RESULTS

In this multicenter cross-sectional study, 498 patients were recruited from outpatient and inpatient settings. The final PREMIUM-CE 13-item bank was sufficiently unidimensional (root mean square error of approximation=0.082, 95% CI 0.067-0.097; comparative fit index=0.974; Tucker-Lewis index=0.968) and showed an adequate fit to the IRT model (infit mean square statistic ranging between 0.7 and 1.0). DIF analysis revealed no item biases according to gender, health care settings, diagnosis, or mode of study participation. PREMIUM-CE scores correlated strongly with satisfaction measures (r=0.69-0.78; P<.001) and weakly with quality-of-life measures (r=0.11-0.21; P<.001). CAT simulations showed a strong correlation (r=0.98) between CAT scores and those of the full item bank, and around 79.5% (396/498) of the participants obtained a reliable score with the administration of an average of 7 items.

CONCLUSIONS

The PREMIUM-CE item bank and its CAT version have shown excellent psychometric properties, making them reliable measures for evaluating the patient experience of the care environment among adults with severe mental illness in both outpatient and inpatient settings. These measures are a valuable addition to the existing landscape of patient experience assessment, capturing what truly matters to patients and enhancing the understanding of their care experiences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02491866; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02491866.

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.

General psychiatric inpatient care for persons with anorexia nervosa-an integrative literature review protocol

INTRODUCTION

People diagnosed with anorexia nervosa are offered or compelled to undergo various treatments and therapies. In Sweden, the lack of highly specialised eating disorder services means that people with anorexia nervosa might be cared for in general psychiatric wards. However, there has been limited research attention paid to how this specific context might benefit or harm persons with anorexia nervosa. There is also limited evidence regarding which form of care is most effective in anorexia nervosa and which type of treatment is optimal in general psychiatric inpatient care. Our intention is to highlight personal and professional perspectives of care for patients with anorexia nervosa in this context, with a focus on person-centred care, gender and power. This protocol describes an integrative literature review aiming to synthesise existing knowledge on general psychiatric inpatient care for persons with anorexia nervosa.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The study will be an integrative literature review following Whittemore and Knafl. We will search the academic databases PubMed, CINAHL and PsycInfo in accordance with a specific search strategy determined in collaboration with a librarian with expertise on systematic reviews. Data will be analysed using a constant comparison method. Persons with their own experience of anorexia nervosa in general psychiatric inpatient care will be involved as coresearchers.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

As this is a literature review, formal ethical review is not required. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and presented at conferences related to this field.

AMENDMENTS

If we need to amend this protocol, we will give the date of each amendment, describe the change and give the rationale in this section.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42023426095.

Staff experiences related to implementation of a recovery-oriented nursing programme in psychiatric inpatient care

Nursing in psychiatric inpatient care is peripheral to a dominating biomedical model of care. Efforts are being made to implement nursing models based on core values and theories for nursing, such as recovery-oriented practices. The aim of the study was to explore experiences of a recovery-oriented nursing programme (Steps Towards Recovery, STR) among nursing staff in psychiatric inpatient care and their ratings of stress (Maslach Burnout Inventory scores), quality of care (Quality of Psychiatric Care - Inpatient staff scores) and satisfaction with nursing care (Satisfaction with Nursing Care and Work scale scores), before and after the implementation-and compare with ratings from reference wards. A quasi-experimental and prospective, pretest-post-test design was used. Specific questions about the nursing programme were answered by staff at the intervention wards. Staff reported predominantly positive experiences of the nursing programme. At follow-up, higher ratings were reported in two dimensions of quality of care in the STR group, and lower ratings in one dimension of stress were evident in the reference group. No differences in ratings between the STR and reference wards were found. Staff members' positive experiences of STR and higher ratings regarding participation and secure environment after implementation suggest that STR is a well-accepted and promising nursing programme. It is important to implement and evaluate recovery-oriented interventions in psychiatric inpatient care, where a focus on symptom relief still prevails. The results indicate that there is potential for further exploration of STR in this context.

Patients' Health & Well-Being in Inpatient Mental Health-Care Facilities: A Systematic Review

Background: Previous research indicates that the physical environment of healthcare facilities plays an important role in the health, well-being, and recovery outcomes of patients. However, prior works on mental healthcare facilities have incorporated physical environment effects from general healthcare settings and patient groups, which cannot be readily transferred to mental healthcare settings or its patients. There appears to be a specific need for evidence synthesis of physical environmental effects in mental healthcare settings by psychopathology. Purpose: This review evaluates the state (in terms of extent, nature and quality) of the current empirical evidence of physical environmental on mental health, well-being, and recovery outcomes in mental healthcare inpatients by psychopathology. Method: A systematic review (PRISMA guidelines) was performed of studies published in English, German, Dutch, Swedish, and Spanish, of all available years until September 2020, searched in Cochrane, Ovid Index, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science and identified through extensive hand-picking. Inclusion criteria were: Adult patients being treated for mental ill-health (common mental health and mood disorders, Cochrane frame); inpatient mental health care facilities; specifications of the physical and socio-physical environment (e.g., design features, ambient conditions, privacy); all types of empirical study designs. Quality assessment and data synthesis were undertaken. Results: The search retrieved 1,068 titles of which 26 met the inclusion criteria. Findings suggest that there is only indicative evidence of the impact of the physical healthcare environment on patients' mental health, well-being, and recovery outcomes. There is significant lack of pathology-specific evidence. Methodological shortcomings and empirical scarcity account for the poor evidence. Conclusion: This review highlights the need for more research using advanced study designs.

It's Not Just in the Walls: Patient and Staff Experiences of a New Spatial Design for Psychiatric Inpatient Care

The environment in psychiatric inpatient care is key to patient recovery and staff job satisfaction. In this qualitative study of patient and staff experiences of a new spatial design in psychiatric inpatient care, we analysed data from 11 semi-structured interviews with patients and five focus group discussions with staff using qualitative content analysis. The new design contributed to feelings of safety and recovery, but patients and staff also reported some frustration and added stress. The results lead us to conclude that while the new spatial design improves some conditions for recovery and job satisfaction, the design itself is simply not enough. Changes in care environments require that both patients and staff be informed and involved in the renovation to ensure that patients feel respected and staff feel confident in using the new environment before and during treatment and follow-ups.

Balancing between a Person-Centred and a Common Staff Approach: Nursing Staff's Experiences of Good Nursing Practice for Patients Who Self-Harm

The aim of this study was to describe nursing staff's experiences of good nursing practice in psychiatric in-patient care for patients with self-harming behavior. The participants were nine nurses and eight nursing assistants working in two in-patient wards in general psychiatry. Four focus group discussions were held and subjected to qualitative content analysis. The findings showed that good nursing practice balanced a person-centred approach with a common staff approach, allowing people who self-harm and staff to share responsibility for structuring everyday life, keeping to the plan, communicating decisions, and finding individual opportunities for relief. Reflective discussions among the staff concerning prejudice, emotional stress, lack of resources, and shortcomings in care planning could also prevent a stigmatizing culture and organizational deficiencies, which would be beneficial for both the people who self-harm and the staff.

Women service users' experiences of inpatient mental health services and staff experiences of providing care to women within inpatient mental health services: A systematic review of qualitative evidence

BACKGROUND

With austerity measures and cuts to community mental health services, more women are accessing UK inpatient mental health services. Inpatient services have been found to lead to further retraumatisation for women, exacerbating mental health conditions. However, recent reviews of service user experiences of inpatient services have neglected the unique perspectives of women and have omitted important dynamics in attitudes and experience between staff and women service users.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise women service users' experiences of inpatient mental health services and staff experiences of providing care to women within inpatient mental health services, to appraise the methodological quality of research in this area and provide recommendations for clinical practice and future research.

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic search of the literature was undertaken in the databases: AMED, CINAHL plus, Embase and PsychINFO. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative research was used to evaluate data quality. Thematic synthesis was conducted on papers meeting the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies were identified and encapsulated the views of 168 staff and 187 service users, with one paper including both staff and service user samples. Three themes derived from the data: Safe haven, Broken system and Therapeutic milieu. Safe haven related to aspects of care such as relational security which made women feel safer in hospital. Broken system pertained to experiences of being fearful of inpatient environments, inadequate acknowledgement of abuse histories, women feeling coerced into compliance with medication and systemic pressures of services being under-resourced. The therapeutic milieu of inpatient services was an important mediator of women experiencing the environment as a 'safe haven' or 'broken system'. Staff and women service users reflected on: the impact on social roles, interaction of peers, physical environment and the importance of meaningful activity, which were deemed to be important contributors to the therapeutic milieu.

CONCLUSIONS

The review made recommendations to improve future research by encouraging studies to include more detail on reflexivity (including the relationship between researcher and participant) and provide more information on the methodological approach to data analysis. Clinical recommendations include: ensuring staff access clinical supervision, for staff to receive training in exploring and supporting women disclosing experiences of abuse, for staff to facilitate choice within inpatient settings and support women in maintaining relationships, particularly parenting roles.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO database (CRD42020156222).

Time Together as an arena for mental health nursing - staff experiences of introducing and participating in a nursing intervention in psychiatric inpatient care

A lack of meaningful activities for people with mental ill health admitted to psychiatric inpatient care has been related to feelings of boredom and 'doing nothing' and is not in line with recovery-oriented care. Staff in psychiatric inpatient care report having limited time, ambiguous responsibilities, and insufficient support that counteracts their ideals of good nursing care and puts them at risk for high levels of stress and stress of conscience. Research highlights a need for interactions between patients and staff, but few nursing interventions with such a focus are described in the literature. This qualitative study aimed to illuminate staff experiences of introducing and participating in the nursing intervention Time Together, via qualitative content analysis of 17 individual semi-structured interviews with nursing staff in psychiatric inpatient care. The results show that these staff members experienced Time Together as an arena for mental health nursing. They prepared for the introduction of the intervention by laying a framework for success. Although the actual implementation led to them feeling burdened, they found that Time Together fostered relationships between patients and staff. For successful implementation, mental health nurses need to advocate the intervention. As Time Together constitutes an arena for mental health nursing, play and conversations based on reciprocity and equality can contribute to patients' recovery.

Virtual Reality Cognitive Therapy in Inpatient Psychiatric Wards: Protocol for a Qualitative Investigation of Staff and Patient Views Across Multiple National Health Service Sites

BACKGROUND

Patients in psychiatric wards typically have very limited access to individual psychological therapy. Inpatients often have significant time available, and an important transition back to everyday life to prepare for-but historically, there have been few trained therapists available on wards for the delivery of evidence-based therapy. Automated virtual reality (VR) therapy may be one route to increase the provision of powerful psychological treatments in psychiatric hospitals. The gameChange automated VR cognitive therapy is targeted at helping patients overcome anxious avoidance and re-engage in everyday situations (such as walking down the street, taking a bus, or going to a shop). This treatment target may fit well for many patients preparing for discharge. However, little is known about how VR therapy may be viewed in this setting.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of the study are to explore psychiatric hospital staff and patients' initial expectations of VR therapy, to gather patient and staff views of an automated VR cognitive therapy (gameChange) after briefly experiencing it, and to identify potential differences across National Health Service (NHS) mental health trusts for implementation. Guided by an implementation framework, the knowledge gained from this study will be used to assess the feasibility of VR treatment adoption into psychiatric hospitals.

METHODS

Focus groups will be conducted with NHS staff and patients in acute psychiatric wards at 5 NHS mental health trusts across England. Staff and patients will be interviewed in separate groups. Individual interviews will also be conducted when preferred by a participant. Within each of the 5 trusts, 1 to 2 wards will be visited. A total of 8-15 staff and patients per ward will be recruited, with a minimum total of 50 staff and patients recruited across all sites. Focus group questions have been derived from the nonadoption, abandonment, and challenges to the scale-up, spread, and sustainability (NASSS) framework. Focus groups will discuss expectations of VR therapy before participants are given the opportunity to briefly try the gameChange VR therapy. Questions will then focus on opinions about the therapy and investigate feasibility of adoption, with particular consideration given to site specific issues. A thematic analysis will be conducted.

RESULTS

As of May 15, 2020, 1 patient focus group has been conducted.

CONCLUSIONS

The study will provide unique insight from patients and staff into the potential for implementing automated VR therapy in psychiatric wards. Perspectives will be captured both on the use of immersive technology hardware and therapy-specific issues in such settings.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/20300.

Activities on acute mental health inpatient wards: A narrative synthesis of the service users' perspective

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Boredom is a big issue on inpatient mental health wards that is linked to poor patient satisfaction, feelings of frustration and increased incidents of self-harm and aggression. This is even more so for people detained under the Mental Health Act. Where wards have a good range of activities, for example art, music, computer games, gardening and exercise, service users felt less bored and had improved well-being. Over many years, studies have reported a lack of activities, especially during evenings and weekends. It has also been found that little is known about what activities service users want, or how activities might be meaningful for them. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This review found that very few studies have asked service users about what activities would be useful and why. By seeing what makes activities desirable and accessible, we can understand how to improve the experiences of service users on wards. Overall, these data help to understand what impact activities (or lack of activities) have on service users and staff experiences on these wards. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Through identifying the activities most appreciated and engaged with by service users and by asking service users what activities they would like available, we can inform best practice guidance for the commissioning and provision of inpatient mental health care. This will enable service provider organizations to target their effort and resources on supporting good practice and to redirect resources from less useful activities. ABSTRACT: Background Concern about the lack of activities on mental health inpatient wards is long-standing with reports consistently finding that service users receive insufficient access to a range of activities and report high levels of boredom. There is recognition that little is known about what service users want when admitted to inpatient wards. Aim This review seeks to understand service users' experiences and views in relation to the provision and availability of activities, and to explore the perceived benefits and barriers to service users. Methods We searched multiple databases (Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Embase) for studies that evaluated activities on acute adult inpatient mental health wards. We identified 12 papers across a range of methodological designs from which the narrative synthesis has been analysed. Results Findings show that the provision of activities is unsatisfactory for many service users, which in turn is related to increased boredom that has a negative impact on service users' well-being. We explore the benefits and barriers to engagement, providing an insight into the aspects that make an activity important. Conclusion There are few studies exploring the needs of service users regarding activity provision; therefore, there is limited knowledge about what is meaningful for individuals.

Using patient experience data to support improvements in inpatient mental health care: the EURIPIDES multimethod study

Background

All NHS providers collect data on patient experience, although there is limited evidence about what to measure or how to collect and use data to improve services. We studied inpatient mental health services, as these are important, costly and often unpopular services within which serious incidents occur.

Aims

To identify which approaches to collecting and using patient experience data are most useful for supporting improvements in inpatient mental health care.

Design

The study comprised five work packages: a systematic review to identify evidence-based patient experience themes relevant to inpatient mental health care (work package 1); a survey of patient experience leads in NHS mental health trusts in England to describe current approaches to collecting and using patient experience data in inpatient mental health services, and to populate the sampling frame for work package 3 (work package 2); in-depth case studies at sites selected using the work package 2 findings, analysed using a realist approach (work package 3); a consensus conference to agree on recommendations about best practice (work package 4); and health economic modelling to estimate resource requirements and potential benefits arising from the adoption of best practice (work package 5). Using a realist methodology, we analysed and presented our findings using a framework based on four stages of the patient experience data pathway, for which we coined the term CRAICh (collecting and giving, receiving and listening, analysing, and quality improvement and change). The project was supported by a patient and public involvement team that contributed to work package 1 and the development of programme theories (work package 3). Two employed survivor researchers worked on work packages 2, 3 and 4.

Setting

The study was conducted in 57 NHS providers of inpatient mental health care in England.

Participants

In work package 2, 47 NHS patient experience leads took part and, in work package 3, 62 service users, 19 carers and 101 NHS staff participated, across six trusts. Forty-four individuals attended the work package 4 consensus conference.

Results

The patient experience feedback cycle was rarely completed and, even when improvements were implemented, these tended to be environmental rather than cultural. There were few examples of triangulation with patient safety or outcomes data. We identified 18 rules for best practice in collecting and using inpatient mental health experience data, and 154 realist context–mechanism–outcome configurations that underpin and explain these.

Limitations

The study was cross-sectional in design and we relied on examples of historical service improvement. Our health economic models (in work package 5) were therefore limited in the estimation and modelling of prospective benefits associated with the collection and use of patient experience data.

Conclusions

Patient experience work is insufficiently embedded in most mental health trusts. More attention to analysis and interpretation of patient experience data is needed, particularly to ways of triangulating these with outcomes and safety data.

Future work

Further evaluative research is needed to develop and evaluate a locally adapted intervention based on the 18 rules for best practice.

Study registration

The systematic review (work package 1) is registered as PROSPERO CRD42016033556.

Funding

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 8, No. 21. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: Management on the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit[Formula: see text]

BACKGROUND. Between 4% to 70% of inpatients engage in self-harming behaviors and effective interventions are needed to address this population. AIM. This article reviews literature from 2007 to 2017 to address treatment and management strategies specific for the treatment of nonsuicidal self-injury in the inpatient psychiatric setting. METHODS. Cochrane, PsycINFO, PubMed, and CINAHL were searched for relevant articles with 34 studies reviewed for applicability to the question, and 9 parsed into a summary of Findings table. RESULTS. Therapeutic approaches that show promise include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and mentalization as well as medications that act on the serotonergic, dopaminergic, and opioid systems. Effective models of care aim toward enhancing therapeutic relationships with staff, providers, and most important, encouraging the internal shift toward recovery within the patient. CONCLUSIONS. More research with controlled designs in the inpatient setting is needed, however, regardless of which approach is used, the impact of the individual caregiver on the patient's recovery is key.

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.

Experiences of in-patient mental health services: systematic review

BACKGROUND

In-patients in crisis report poor experiences of mental healthcare not conducive to recovery. Concerns include coercion by staff, fear of assault from other patients, lack of therapeutic opportunities and limited support. There is little high-quality evidence on what is important to patients to inform recovery-focused care.AimsTo conduct a systematic review of published literature, identifying key themes for improving experiences of in-patient mental healthcare.

METHOD

A systematic search of online databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL) for primary research published between January 2000 and January 2016. All study designs from all countries were eligible. A qualitative analysis was undertaken and study quality was appraised. A patient and public reference group contributed to the review.

RESULTS

Studies (72) from 16 countries found four dimensions were consistently related to significantly influencing in-patients' experiences of crisis and recovery-focused care: the importance of high-quality relationships; averting negative experiences of coercion; a healthy, safe and enabling physical and social environment; and authentic experiences of patient-centred care. Critical elements for patients were trust, respect, safe wards, information and explanation about clinical decisions, therapeutic activities, and family inclusion in care.

CONCLUSIONS

A number of experiences hinder recovery-focused care and must be addressed with the involvement of staff to provide high-quality in-patient services. Future evaluations of service quality and development of practice guidance should embed these four dimensions.Declaration of interestK.B. is editor of British Journal of Psychiatry and leads a national programme (Synergi Collaborative Centre) on patient experiences driving change in services and inequalities.

Patients' experiences of taking part in Time Together - A nursing intervention in psychiatric inpatient care

This qualitative study aimed to illuminate patients' experiences of taking part in the nursing intervention Time Together. The data were drawn from 11 individual semi-structured interviews with patients and analysed with qualitative content analysis using an inductive approach. The results show that patients taking part in Time Together felt confirmed and participated on equal terms; thus, they experienced being seen as humans among other humans. Time Together offered patients a break, and they felt strengthened, which contributed to their hopes for recovery. Furthermore, when Time Together was absent patients felt disconfirmed, which fostered feelings of distance from staff. The results support the effectiveness of the intervention, indicating that Time Together may be a tool to facilitate patients' personal recovery. However, the success of the intervention depends on staff compliance with the predetermined structure of the intervention in combination with engagement.

Patients' experiences of isolation in psychiatric inpatient care: Insights from a meta-ethnographic study

Historically, people with mental ill-health have been isolated from society. Although mental health care has moved from closed to more open forms of care, in many societies care is still provided in locked wards, and people with mental ill-health are sometimes secluded from their fellow patients, families, friends, and visitors. The aim of this study was to illuminate patients' experiences of isolation in psychiatric inpatient care. A systematic review of qualitative research was conducted, and the key findings were subjected to meta-ethnographic synthesis. The findings were twofold: 'being admitted to prison' and 'having access to shelter'. The experience of isolated care as prison-like symbolizes patients' longing for freedom and feeling restricted and limited by rules, stripped of rights, abandoned, controlled, powerless, and unsupported. In contrast, the experience of isolation as shelter symbolizes safety and the opportunity to regain control over one's own situation. A stigmatizing public view holds that people with mental ill-health are dangerous and unpredictable and, therefore, unsafe to themselves and others. Being placed in isolation because these fears contribute to self-stigma among patients. Promoting a sheltered experience in which isolation is used with respect for patients and the reasons are made explicit may encourage recovery. A shift in emphasis in ward culture from observation to engagement is needed to reduce blame, shift patient experiences from prison to shelter, and to support autonomy as a therapeutic intervention.

Does a new spatial design in psychiatric inpatient care influence patients' and staff's perception of their care/working environment? A study protocol of a pilot study using a single-system experimental design

Background

Research shows that worn-out physical environments are obstacles to psychiatric inpatient care. Patients want better relationships with staff and things to do; staff want an environment that offers hope, a calm atmosphere, and joint activities. A county council in northern Sweden and Philips Healthcare partnered to create solutions to the environmental challenges of psychiatric inpatient care. One ward at a county psychiatric clinic was selected for a pilot project to test solutions that could improve the care environment for patients, staff, and relatives. The aim of the overall project is to evaluate the effects of a newly designed psychiatric inpatient ward on patients and staff in terms of quality of care and stress. In this study, we focus on the feasibility through testing questionnaires and exploring barriers to recruiting staff and patients.

Methods

This study had a single-system experimental design, comparing a psychiatric unit pre- and post-implementation of the novel spatial design, using repeated measures with the same questionnaires twice a week during baseline and intervention phases. Primary outcomes were quality interactions (patients) and perceived stress (staff). Secondary outcomes were levels of anxiety and depression (patients), and stress of conscience (staff). A process evaluation was aimed to describe contextual factors and participant experiences of the new design. Data was collected using questionnaires and semi-structured individual interviews with patients and focus group discussions with staff. Both visual and statistical methods were used to analyse the quantitative data and content analysis for the qualitative data.

Discussion

The findings will contribute insights into whether and how a new spatial design might contribute to quality interactions and reduced stress. This is relevant both nationally and internationally, as similar interventions are needed but sparse. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03140618, registered 4 May 2017

Time Together: A nursing intervention in psychiatric inpatient care: Feasibility and effects

The facilitation of quality time between patients and staff in psychiatric inpatient care is useful to promote recovery and reduce stress experienced by staff. However, interventions are reported to be complex to implement and are poorly described in the literature. This multisite study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effects of the nursing intervention Time Together, using mixed methods. Data consisted of notes from participant observations and logs to evaluate feasibility, and questionnaires to evaluate effects. The primary outcome for patients was quality of interactions, and for staff, it was perceived stress. The secondary outcome for patients was anxiety and depression symptom levels, and for staff, it was stress of conscience. Data were analysed using visual analysis, percentage of nonoverlapping data, and qualitative content analysis. The results showed that Time Together was a feasible intervention, but measurements showed no effects on the two patient outcomes: quality of interactions and anxiety and depressive symptoms and, questionable effects on perceived stress and stress of conscience among staff. Shared responsibility, a friendly approach, and a predictable structure enabled Time Together, while a distant approach and an unpredictable structure hindered the intervention. In conclusion, the intervention proved to be feasible with potential to enable quality interactions between patients and staff using the enabling factors as supportive components. It also had some effects on perceived stress and stress of conscience among staff. Further evaluation is needed to build on the evidence for the intervention.

Nursing staff-led behavioural group intervention in psychiatric in-patient care: Patient and staff experiences

A promising intervention in mental health in-patient care is behavioural activation (BA). Interventions based on BA can be used by mental health nurses and other staff members. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients' and staff members' experiences of a nursing staff-led behavioural group intervention in mental health in-patient care. The intervention was implemented at three adult acute general mental health in-patient wards in a public hospital setting in Sweden. A self-administrated questionnaire, completed by 84 patients and 34 nurses and nurse assistants, was administered, and nonparametric data analysed using descriptive statistics. Our findings revealed that both patients and nursing staff ranked nursing care and care environment as important aspects in the recovery process. Patients and staff members reported overall positive experiences of the group sessions. Patients with higher frequencies of attendance and patients satisfied with overall care had a more positive attitude towards the intervention. A more positive experience of being a group leader was reported by staff members who had been leading groups more than ten times. The most common impeding factor during implementation, reported by staff members, was a negative attitude to change. Conducive factors were having support from a psychologist and the perception that patients were showing interest. These positive experiences reported by patients and nursing staff, combined with previous research in this field, are taking us one step further in evaluating group sessions based on BA as a meaningful nursing intervention in mental health in-patient care.

A Systematic Literature Review of Experiences of Professional Care and Support Among People Who Self-Harm

Self-harm is an increasing phenomenon among young people, with potentially fatal outcomes. Patient's perceptions of treatment and support are poorly documented. The aim was to synthesise the experiences of those who self-harm, with special reference to professional care and support by family, friends, and the school system. A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Following retrieval of 1,623 abstracts, 14 studies were included in the final analysis, 11 of which are reported here. Two quantitative studies as well as 1 mixed method study on self-care could not be reported on here due to word limitations. Adult people who self-harm described the importance of quality in the caring relationship and a tailored care designed for each individual. There is a need for more studies into adolescents who self-harm but of importance is the adolescents' need for support from the adult world. A positive relationship between patient and healthcare professional can be crucial in motivating continued treatment of people who self-harm. A major priority is radical improvement in the attitudes of healthcare personnel.

Does 'Time Together' increase quality of interaction and decrease stress? A study protocol of a multisite nursing intervention in psychiatric inpatient care, using a mixed method approach

INTRODUCTION

Despite the long-known significance of the nurse-patient relationship, research in psychiatric inpatient care still reports unfulfilled expectations of, and difficulties in, interactions and relationships between patients and staff. Interventions that create structures to allow quality interactions between patients and staff are needed to solve these problems. The aim of this project is to test effects of the nursing intervention Time Together and to evaluate the intervention process.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a multisite study with a single-system experimental design using frequent measures. The primary outcomes are quality interactions for patients and perceived stress for staff. Secondary outcomes are levels of symptoms of anxiety and depression for patients and stress of conscience for staff. A process evaluation is performed to describe contextual factors and experiences. Data are collected using questionnaires, participant observations and semistructured interviews. For analysis of quantitative data, both visual and statistical methods will be used. Qualitative data will be analysed using qualitative content analysis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval was granted by the Ethical Review Board in the region (Dnr 2016/339-31). The findings will contribute to the development of nursing interventions in general, but more specifically to the development of the intervention. This is relevant both nationally and internationally as similar interventions are needed but sparse. The findings will be disseminated through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02981563.

From ideals to resignation - interprofessional teams perspectives on everyday life processes in psychiatric inpatient care

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Psychiatric inpatient care has been described by both ward staff and patients as being demanding and disorganized, lacking opportunities for quality interactions in everyday life through joint activities. Qualitative research on interprofessional teams' perspectives on everyday life processes in psychiatric inpatient care is lacking. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Staff have ideals about care and collaboration, but the obstacles they face in everyday life, such as a poor environment, power asymmetry, lacking structure and the demands of managing chaos, mean that they appear to resign and shift focus from the patients' best interests to self-survival. Different professions in general describe the same obstacles in everyday life on the wards but there are also profession-specific perspectives on distancing and feelings of abandonment. To our knowledge, these findings have not been reported in the international evidence. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Given these findings we suggest interventions such as Protected Engagement Time as well as reflective dialogues within interprofessional teams. This would help staff to resume their caring role in everyday life in psychiatric inpatient care and put their ideals into practice.

ABSTRACT

Introduction Patients and ward staff describe psychiatric inpatient care as demanding, characterized by unpredictable events, yet research on interprofessional teams perspectives of everyday life processes in psychiatric inpatient care lacks. Aim This study aims to explore everyday life processes in psychiatric inpatient care, as reported by staff in interprofessional teams. Method A grounded theory design was used and 36 participants were interviewed. Results The analysis resulted in a process-oriented core category From ideals to resignation. Related to this core category were three further categories: Knowing where to go, Walking a path of obstacles and Shifting focus from the patient's best interests to self-survival. The staff had ideals about care and collaboration, but a poor environment, power asymmetry, lacking structure and demands of managing chaos meant that they appeared to resign from putting their ideals into practice. Discussion Different professions in general describe the same obstacles in everyday life on the wards but there are also profession-specific perspectives on distancing and feelings of abandonment. To our knowledge similar findings have not been reported in the international evidence. Implications In order to support interprofessional teams to work according to their ideals, interventions such as Protected Engagement Time and reflective dialogues within the teams are suggested.

Taking personal responsibility: Nurses' and assistant nurses' experiences of good nursing practice in psychiatric inpatient care

Therapeutic nurse-patient relationships are considered essential for good nursing practice in psychiatric inpatient care. Previous research suggests that inpatient care fails to fulfil patients' expectations in this regard, and that nurses might experience the reality of inpatient care as an obstruction. The aim of the present study was to explore nurses' and assistant nurses' experiences of good nursing practice in the specific context of psychiatric inpatient care. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 skilled, relationship-oriented nurses and assistant nurses in order to explore their experiences with nursing practice related to psychiatric inpatient care. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using an interpretive descriptive approach. Findings describe good nursing practice as a matter of nurses and assistant nurses taking personal responsibility for their actions and for the individual patient as a person. Difficulties in providing dignified nursing care and taking personal responsibility cause them to experience feelings of distress and frustration. Shared values and nursing leadership supports being moral and treating patients with respect, having enough time supports being present and connecting with patients, and working as a part of a competent team with critical daily discussions and diversity supports being confident and building trust. The findings suggest that taking personal responsibility is integral to good nursing practice. If unable to improve poor circumstances, nurses might be forced to promote their own survival by refuting or redefining their responsibility. Nurses need to prioritize being with patients and gain support in shaping their own nursing practice. Nursing leadership should provide moral direction and defend humanistic values.

Quality of interactions influences everyday life in psychiatric inpatient care--patients' perspectives

Everyday life consists of daily activities that are taken for granted. It forms the foundation for human efforts and contains elements of both comfort and boredom. Because everyday life escapes no one, life in a psychiatric ward will become ordinary while staying there. This study aims to explore everyday life in psychiatric inpatient care based on patients' experiences. We individually interviewed 16 participants with experiences of psychiatric inpatient care and analysed the data in accordance with the methods of grounded theory. Data collection and analysis continued in parallel in accordance with the method. Our results showed that everyday life is linked to the core category quality of interactions influences everyday life, and three constructed categories-staff makes the difference, looking for shelter in a stigmatizing environment, and facing a confusing care content-were related to the core category. Our results highlight the importance of ordinary relationships between staff and patients in psychiatric inpatient care. These results can be used to develop nursing interventions to improve psychiatric inpatient care and might also be used as a basis for reflective dialogues among staff.