A preliminary comparison of acute mental health inpatient wards which use Protected Engagement Time, with other wards delivering standard care alone

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Patients on acute psychiatric wards in the UK have recurrently reported that they are unhappy with the ward environment, that they are bored and have little to do, that wards are intimidating, and above all, contact between staff and patients is often identified as too limited in both quantity and quality, and as lacking therapeutic content. Despite various local and national initiatives, we do not yet have an evidence-based way of addressing this problem. Protected Engagement Time (PET) has emerged as a promising initiative for improving quantity and usefulness of staff-patient contact. During fixed periods of the day, staffs are asked to focus solely on patient contact: visitors are not admitted and administrative duties and meetings not allowed. This approach is popular and inexpensive to implement. However, we do not have any evidence about whether it works or how it should be implemented to achieve the best results. This pilot study aims to address the lack of evidence around the PET initiative. Our primary objectives are to identify whether it works, what the principal components are, and in what way these might be combined in order to maximise impact. The findings of this pilot study will also provide a basis for a future randomised trial of the intervention.