Implementation of an Open Door Policy on Two Acute Care Units

Abstract

Since the amendments to the Baden-Württemberg Psychiatric Assistance Act, psychiatric patients who are treated involuntarily can be admitted to open wards. As a result, a comprehensive research project was carried out to implement an open-door policy. This work evaluates the attitudes of patients and therapeutic teams. Over the course of a year, 8 focus groups with 6 to 11 participants were conducted with patients and staff before and at the end of the intervention phase and analyzed qualitatively. The concept of open doors was received positively. The staff raised safety concerns whereas on the patient side the door status seemed to be of limited relevance regarding the experience of autonomy or stigmatization. The elaboration of conflict issues allows a further development of specific concepts towards the implementation of open doors on psychiatric acute wards.