General Hospital Psychiatric Wards Research Articles

Homelessness and housing problems in admitted psychiatric patients in Flanders, Belgium.

Homelessness in psychiatric patients in Flanders, Belgium, has never been investigated. Advocacy groups from patients with lived experience of psychiatric disorders have sounded the alarm on the scarcity of suitable housing options, the strain on psychiatric institutions, and the challenges faced by social service workers. To investigate the extent of the problem a survey on the topic was initiated. A "homelessness-in-mental-health-questionnaire" was designed by experts in the field. The social services of all Flemish psychiatric hospitals and all psychiatric wards in general hospitals were contacted and invited to complete this survey. 24 of 70 contacted services responded. The total number of homeless patients in the inpatient setting on an annual basis are estimated to an average 19.5%. 18% of homeless patients remain longer in admission due to the lack of housing options. 13.7% of homeless psychiatric patients are referred to a community care facility such as an assisted living facility. Social service respondents reported spending an average of 27.4% of their work time on housing issues. The main focus points according to the respondents are the lack of priority measures for homeless psychiatric patients, psychiatric problems as a barrier to housing options and the shortage of adapted housing capacity. The conclusion of this study is the need for comprehensive policy interventions to ensure an adequate supply of suitable social housing for psychiatric patients, accessible mental health care, alternative housing options and crisis accommodation facilities. We propose a 10-point action plan on housing for psychiatric patients for policymakers and politicians.

Changes in psychiatric admissions to psychiatric wards due to COVID-19

IntroductionFunctioning in acute inpatient psychiatric units has been challenged by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Patients with more severe mental health symptoms changed their rates of voluntary admission to psychiatric wards during the onset of the pandemic. Peritraumatic distress scores and increased likelihood of being psychologically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to a psychiatric admission. However, other factors could prevent hospitalization.ObjectivesThe present investigation aimed at admission rates of patients by depression, adjustment disorder or suicidal behaviour to a General Hospital Psychiatric Ward. We compared the lockdown due to COVID-19 in 2020 to similar periods of 2018 and 2019.MethodsThe data of one general hospital psychiatric ward admissions have been obtained and analysed. We compared admission characteristics of 237 patients between April and June of 2018 and 2019 with 79 patients in the same period of 2020 (lockdown).ResultsDuring the COVID-19 lockdown, there was a 35.8% reduction in psychiatric admissions and a significant reduction in psychiatric admission was observed due to suicidal behaviour (IRR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.26-0.89; p=0.002) and depression (IRR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.08-0.68; p=0.007), but similar rates of adjustment disorders (IRR = 1.12; 95% CI: 0.58-2.15; p=0.73).ConclusionsWe suggest that patients with depression or suicidal behaviour avoided admission, for fear of contagion in hospitals. Also, greater family support could prevent self-injurious behaviours. By contrast, other disorders continued to require the same admission rate, since the social consequences derived from confinement could lead to the genesis or worsening of symptoms, such as adjustment disorders.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

General Hospital Plus Psychiatric Ward: Unseen Challenges in an Integrated Model

In recent years, the lack of psychiatric beds, especially in developing countries, has encouraged the inauguration of psychiatric wards in general hospitals, which is usually fulfilled by allotting a number of medical beds to psychiatric patients, in the same building or in separate office blocks.

The quality of mental health care delivered to patients with schizophrenia and related disorders in the Italian mental health system. The QUADIM project: a multi-regional Italian investigation based on healthcare utilisation databases.

To evaluate the quality of mental health care delivered to patients with schizophrenia and related disorders taken-in-care by mental health services in four Italian regions (Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Sicily). Thirty-one clinical indicators concerning accessibility, appropriateness, continuity and safety were defined and estimated using healthcare utilisation (HCU) databases, containing data on mental health treatments, hospital admissions, outpatient interventions, lab tests and drug prescriptions. A total of 70 586 prevalent patients with schizophrenia and related disorders treated in 2015 were identified, of whom 1752 were newly taken-in-care by the facilities of regional mental health services. For most patients community care was accessible and moderately intensive. However, care pathways were not implemented based on a structured assessment and only half of the patients received psychosocial treatments. One patient out of ten had access to psychological interventions and psychoeducation. Activities specifically addressed to families involved a third of prevalent patients and less than half of new patients. One patient out of six was admitted to a community residential facility, and one out of ten to a General Hospital Psychiatric Ward (GHPW); higher values were identified in new cases. In general hospitals, few patients had a length of stay (LoS) of more than 30 days, while one-fifth of the admissions were followed by readmission within 30 days of discharge. For two-thirds of patients, continuity of community care was met, and six times out of ten a discharge from a GHPW was followed by an outpatient contact within 2 weeks. For cases newly taken-in-care, the continuity of community care was uncommon, while the readiness of outpatient contacts after discharge was slightly more frequent. Most of the patients received antipsychotic medication, but their adherence to long-term treatment was low. Antipsychotic polytherapy was frequent and the control of metabolic side effects was poor. The variability between regions was high and consistent in all the quality domains. The Italian mental health system could be improved by increasing the accessibility to psychosocial interventions, improving the quality of care for newly taken-in-care patients, focusing on somatic health and mortality, and reducing regional variability. Clinical indicators demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of the mental health system in these regions, and, as HCU databases, they could be useful tools in the routine assessment of mental healthcare quality at regional and national levels.

Efficacy of family psychoeducation on drug compliance, self-esteem and caregivers' burden among selected psychiatric inpatients from a tertiary care centre, North India

Background:Lack of awareness has alarmingly raised the proportion of drug noncompliance among psychiatric patients, which are proven worrisome not only to the patients but also to their caregivers. An individually tailored family psychoeducation will address the issue by enhancing the knowledge among patients and their caregivers.Aim:The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of family psychoeducation on drug compliance, self-esteem, and caregiver's burden among psychotic and mood disorder patients in a selected tertiary care center, Uttarakhand, India.Methods:A quasi-experimental study was performed among 120 participants using total enumerative sampling in a general hospital psychiatric ward. Data were collected from patients and caregivers using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and Zarit burden interview-22. The outcome measures were evaluated in the 2 and 4th weeks, and data were analyzed using the descriptive (frequency, percentage) and inferential statistics (Friedman analysis of variance, Wilcoxon signed-rank test) using the SPSS software version 23.0.Results:The present study showed that almost 30% of patients were noncompliant with their drug regime (mean ± standard deviation, 4.23 ± 1.57), and a majority (63.33%) of them presented with a low level of self-esteem. Furthermore, 71.7% and 13.3% of caregivers experienced a moderate and severe burden. An increase in drug compliance (35%) and self-esteem (31%) and a decrease in caregivers’ burden (13%) were observed after the administration of family psychoeducation (P = 0.00).Conclusion:There is a great need to provide family psychoeducation on a routine basis in general hospitals. Patients with higher self-esteem will ultimately show improved social and occupational functionality resulting in satisfactory treatment compliance and decreased caregivers’ burden.

Psychiatric hospitalization during the two SARS-CoV-2 pandemic waves: New warnings for acute psychotic episodes and suicidal behaviors.

BACKGROUNDThe subsequent waves of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic have represented a dramatic health emergency characterized by significant consequences on mental health. Diachronic variations in the incidence rates of acute relapse of psychiatric disorders may represent significant "sentinel events" for assessing the mental health response to an unprecedented stressful event.AIMTo investigate the variation in psychiatric hospitalization rates and differences in sociodemographic and clinical-psychopathological peculiarities at Bologna "Maggiore" General Hospital Psychiatric Ward (GHPW) between the first two waves SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the same periods of the previous 3 years. The secondary purpose of the study was to suggest a diachronic response pathway to stress by reporting additional literature data on coping strategies.METHODSThis observational and retrospective study collected information on admission to the GHPW at the "Maggiore" Hospital in Bologna in the index periods defined as follows: the first period between February 24, 2020 and April 30, 2020 (first epidemic wave) and the second period between October 8, 2020, and January 7, 2021 (second pandemic wave). Absolute numbers and proportion of admitted patients, their sociodemographic and clinical-psychopathological characteristics were compared with the same parameters recorded in the two same periods of the previous 3 years. No strict inclusion or exclusion criteria were provided in the data collection to collect information on all patients requiring acute psychiatric hospitalization.RESULTSDuring the first wave, there was a significant reduction in hospitalization rates, although there was a simultaneous increase in compulsory hospitalizations and the acute relapse of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. During the second wave, hospitalization rates reached those recorded during the same period of the previous 3 years, mainly due to the rise of bipolar and related disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders and suicidal behaviors.CONCLUSIONThe coping strategies adopted during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic protected the vulnerable population from the general risk of clinical-psychopathological acute relapse, even if they increased the susceptibility to run into schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder relapses. In the medium-long term (as in the second pandemic wave), the same strategies do not play protective roles against the stress associated with the pandemic and social restriction measures. Indeed, during the second wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, an increase in total hospitalization rate, suicidal behaviors and the incidence rate of bipolar and related disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders was observed.

CHANGES IN MENTAL HEALTH AFTER COVID-19 TRANSFER AND HEALTH CARE RESOURCES

The article analyzes the incidence of COVID-19 and complications after the disease, especially in terms of the mental health of the world’s population. The purpose of the study was to analyze changes in the mental health of the population of Ukraine after the transfer of COVID-19 and determine the resources of health professionals in the field of health, summarize the most common complaints that arose during the disease, identify compliance with quarantine measures and duration of treatment as in the hospital and at home, in the systematization of complications after the disorder, the duration of antidepressants and the assessment of respondents’ attitudes towards vaccination against COVID-19. A sociological survey has been conducting of 611 respondents mostly students, and teachers of Vinnytsia National University Pirogov. According to the results of the questionnaire, complaints from the nervous system: fatigue – 85.6%, sleep disorders during the disease were noted – 41.4%, irritability – 38.6%, anxiety disorders – 26.0%, memory impairment – 23,2%, depression – 17.9%, fear – 13.3%, confusion – 11.9%, panic attacks – 10.2%, convulsions – 4.9% and suicidal thoughts in 2.1% (66.6% of men) respondents. In Ukraine, it is necessary to create new conditions for alternative treatment of the mentally ill and the population that has negative consequences in mental health after the transfer of COVID-19 based on primary health care, namely: in psychiatric wards of general hospitals, day hospitals, in crisis centers, mental health centers. It is necessary to create a single electronic medical system for recording appeals from the public (personal data) to improve the health care system, as is done in European countries.

Substantiation of the sanitary-epidemiological component to the new edition of the state-building norms of Ukraine “Health care institutions” concerning designing of psychiatric hospitals, taking into account the international experience

Annotation. The aim of the work was to evaluate the design decisions of new psychiatric health care facilities in Ukraine and their comparative characteristics with EU institutions. An analysis of the requirements for the design of domestic new psychiatric wards, day hospitals in outpatient psychiatric wards in general hospitals according to paragraph 8.2.15 SBN B.2.2-10: 2019. State building codes of Ukraine “Buildings and structures. Healthcare facilities” (draft, final version) and European facilities of the same type based on the study of literature data. The method of theoretical analysis is used. It was found that conditions of the location of inpatient departments, their zoning, composition, and area of premises, requirements to ensure a safe stay of patients in wards, toilets, and bathrooms are regulating in the new SBN B.2.2-10: 2019. This essentially repeats the sanitary and hygienic requirements of the previous document SBN B .2.2-10: 2001 “Healthcare facilities”, ie no changes are aiming at creating an ecological environment and comfortable conditions for patients and medical staff of psychiatric healthcare facilities. In this normative document, there is no clear understanding of the location of medical facilities and the next post of a nurse in inpatient departments of psychiatric hospitals; there is no area for a private stay of patients with mental disorders in the middle of the department and outside it; the regulations of life support systems for nurses and patients in the inpatient department (lighting, noise, air exchange, etc.) of psychiatric hospitals are not standardized. In European psychiatric clinics, the “therapeutic environment” provides for the presence of single and double wards (coincides with domestic building codes); area of 37.7 m2 per patient under foreign law, while the project DBN B.2.2-10: 2019 – the zone per patient is 12 m2, which is three times less; separate bathrooms and toilets, common areas, individual access to the garden, where the conditions of privacy of patients are creating (not provided by Ukrainian regulations); location of most patient rooms around the central work area for medical staff (according to national legislation – a corridor-type system); creation of visual supervision over the doors of bedrooms, showers, toilets, kitchens, garden gazebos, as well as the selection of colours for painting the walls of wards and corridors of offices (not provided by Ukrainian regulations). To create a proper “therapeutic/healing environment” in new domestic mental health facilities (psychiatric wards, day hospitals in outpatient psychiatric wards in general hospitals, mental health centres), it is necessary to implement European requirements in the design of these facilities with the involvement of multidisciplinary groups: from architects to nurses, from construction contractors to patients and supplement SBN B.2.2-10: 2019 “Buildings and structures. Health Facilities” is a guide to designing psychiatric health facilities.

Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on admissions to general hospital psychiatric wards in Italy: Reduced psychiatric hospitalizations and increased suicidality

AimsThe present investigation aimed at evaluating differences in psychiatric hospitalizations in Italy during and after the lockdown due to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), compared to the same periods in 2018 and 2019. MethodsWe obtained and analyzed anonymized data on psychiatric admissions (n = 4550) from 12 general hospital psychiatric wards (GHPWs) in different Italian regions (catchment area = 3.71 millions of inhabitants). Using a mixed-effects Poisson regression model, we compared admission characteristics across three periods: (a) March 1–June 30, 2018 and 2019; (b) March 1–April 30, 2020 (i.e., lockdown); and (c) May 1–June 30, 2020 (i.e., post-lockdown). ResultsDuring the COVID-19 lockdown, there was a 41% reduction (IRR = 0.59; p < 0.001, CI: 0.45–0.79) in psychiatric admissions in the enrolled GHPWs with respect to the 2018 and 2019 control period. Conversely, admission rates in the post-lockdown period were similar to those observed in the control period. Notably, a consistent and significant reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations of older patients (aged >65 years) was observed in the lockdown (40%; IRR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.44–0.82) and post-lockdown (28%; IRR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.54–0.96) periods. Long-stay admissions (>14 days) increased (63%; IRR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.32–2.02) during the lockdown and decreased by 39% thereafter (IRR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.49–0.75). A significant 35% increase in patients reporting suicidal ideation was observed in the post-lockdown period, compared to the rate observed in the 2018 and 2019 control period (IRR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.01–1.79). ConclusionThe COVID-19 lockdown was associated with changes in the number of psychiatric admissions, particularly for older patients and long-stay hospitalizations. Increased admission of patients reporting suicidal ideation in the post-lockdown period merits special attention. Further studies are required to gain insight into the observed phenomena.

Effectiveness of therapeutic milieu intervention on inpatients with depressive disorder: A feasibility study from North India.

This study examined therapeutic milieu interventions on self-esteem, socio-occupational functioning, and depressive symptoms among inpatients with depressive disorders. A pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group quasi-experimental design was adopted. Sixty participants with depression who got admitted to the general hospital psychiatric ward were assigned to a control (Treatment as Usual) group and an experimental (therapeutic milieu intervention) group nonrandomly using a convenience sampling technique. We evaluated the following outcome measures: self-esteem, socio-occupational functioning, and depressive symptoms for both groups at baseline, 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks. Therapeutic milieu interventions improved self-esteem, socio-occupational functioning, and reduced depressive symptoms. The findings provided initial evidence for practice. Psychiatric nurses can implement simple, milieu therapy interventions in any setting, which will enhance the clinical outcomes and socio-occupational functioning of depressive patients.

Psychiatry during the Covid-19 pandemic: a survey on mental health departments in Italy

BackgroundTo date, very few nationwide studies addressing the way in which mental health services are addressing the current pandemics have been published. The present paper reports data obtained from a survey relating to the Italian mental health system conducted during the first phase of the Covid-19 epidemic.MethodsTwo online questionnaires regarding Community Mental Health Centres (CMHC) and General Hospital Psychiatric Wards (GHPW), respectively, were sent to the Heads of all Italian Mental Health Departments (MHDs). Statistical analysis was carried out by means of Chi Square test with Yates correction or the Fisher Exact test, as needed.ResultsSeventy-one (52.9%) of the 134 MHDs and 107 (32.6%) of the 318 GHPWs returned completed questionnaires. Less than 20% of CMHCs were closed and approx. 25% had introduced restricted access hours. A substantial change in the standard mode of operation in CMHCs was reported with only urgent psychiatric interventions, compulsory treatments and consultations for imprisoned people continuing unchanged. All other activities had been reduced to some extent. Remote contacts with users had been set up in about 75% of cases. Cases of COVID positivity were reported for both staff members (approx. 50% of CHMCs) and service users (52% of CHMCs). 20% of CMHCs reported cases of increased aggressiveness or violence among community patients, although only 8.6% relating to severe cases. Significant problems emerged with regard to the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff members. A reduced number of GHPWs (− 12%), beds (approx.-30%) and admissions were registered (87% of GHPWs). An increase in compulsory admissions and the rate of violence towards self or others among inpatients was reported by 8% of GHPWs. Patient swabs were carried out in 50% of GHPWs. 60% of GHPWs registered the admission to general COVID-19 Units of symptomatic COVID+ non-severe psychiatric patients whilst COVID+ severe psychiatric patients who were non-collaborative were admitted to specifically set up “COVID-19” GHPWs or to isolated areas of the wards purposely adapted for the scope.ConclusionsThe pandemic has led to a drastic reduction in levels of care, which may produce a severe impact on the mental health of the population in relation to the consequences of the expected economic crisis and of the second ongoing wave of the pandemic.

Psychiatric hospitalization rates in Italy before and during COVID-19: did they change? An analysis of register data.

To assess admission rates to seven General Hospital Psychiatric Wards (GHPWs) located in the Lombardy Region in the 40 days after the start of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, compared to similar periods of 2020 and 2019. Anonymized data from the regional psychiatric care register have been obtained and analyzed. The seven GHPWs care for approximately 1.4 million inhabitants and have a total of 119 beds. In the 40-day period (February 21-March 31, 2020) after the start of the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy, compared to a similar 40-day period prior to February 21, and compared to two 40-day periods of 2019, there has been a marked reduction in psychiatric admission rates. The reduction was explained by voluntary admissions, while there was not a noticeable reduction for involuntary admissions. The reduction was visible for all diagnostic groups, except for a group of 'Other' diagnoses, which includes anxiety disorders, neurocognitive disorders, etc. Large-scale pandemics can modify voluntary admission rates to psychiatric facilities in the early phases following pandemic onset. We suggest that the reduction in admission rates may be due to fear of hospitals, seen as possible sites of contagion, as well as to a change in thresholds of behavioral problems acting as a trigger for admission requests from family relatives or referrals from treating clinicians. It is unclear from the study whether the reduction in admissions was contributed to most by the current pandemic or the lockdown imposed due to the pandemic.

Organization of mental healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Background:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), like any other pandemic, has imposed an unprecedented threat to physical and mental health to all nations, worldwide. There is no enough evidence in the literature in this area. The present study has been done to explore the organization of psychiatric services in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) to meet mental health needs of BH citizens during the particular restrictive measures caused by COVID-19 pandemic.MaterialsThis online survey has been done for BH psychiatric institutions. Data were collected from psychiatric institutions in the mental health network of BH. A total of 38 complete responses have been received.Results:Of 38 study participants, three were the departments of psychiatry in university clinical centers, two were psychiatric hospitals, four were psychiatric wards in general hospitals, 27 were community mental health centers, and two were institutes for alcoholism and drug addiction. During the pandemic, all services functioned on a reduced scale, adhering to measures to protect and self-protect both staff and service users. Protective equipment was provided to staff in some institutions in a timely and complete manner and in some in an untimely and incomplete manner. Consultative psychiatric examinations were mainly performed through telephone and online, where it exists as a standard patient monitoring protocol. The application of long-acting antipsychotics was continuous with adherence to restricted and protective measures. In opiate addiction replacement therapy services, substitution therapy was provided for a longer period to reduce frequent contacts between staff and patients. Individual and group psychotherapy continued in reduced number using online technologies, although this type of service was not administratively regulated. An initiative has been given to regulate and administratively recognize telepsychiatry by health insurance funds in the country. A number of psychological problems associated with restrictive measures and fear of illness have been reported by patients as well as by the professionals in mental healthcare teams. There were no COVID-19-positive patients seeking help from institutions that responded to the questionnaire. In one center, infected people with COVID-19 from abroad sought help through the phone. Only one involuntary hospitalization was reported. The involvement of mental health professionals in the work of crisis headquarters during the design of the COVID-19 pandemic control measures varies from satisfactory to insufficient. Education of staff, patients, and citizens was regular with direct instructions through meetings, press, and electronic media.Conclusions:During the COVID-19 pandemic in BH, all psychiatric services functioned on a reduced scale, adhering to measures to protect and self-protect staff and service users. All patients who asked for help have been adequately treated in direct inpatient or outpatient mental healthcare or online, despite telepsychiatric services not being recognized in health system in BH. There were neither infected patients nor staff with COVID-19 in the psychiatric institutions who responded in this research. A large-scale, multicenter study needs to be performed to get a broader picture and to guide us for future better service planning and delivery.

Preliminary study of the role of general hospital psychiatric ward for patients with dementia in Japan.

A psychiatric ward in a general hospital might be suitable for people with dementia because of the comprehensive medical care available. The aim was to investigate the characteristics of 86 patients with dementia admitted to psychiatric ward in a general hospital. About 40% of the patients were admitted due to a diagnosis of dementia and the need for treatment of a physical disease. The expected roles of psychiatric ward in a general hospital for patients with dementia include the acute care of physical and psychological problems and a differential diagnosis.

Dieci problemi per una reale riforma della salute mentale

The Italian Law no. 180/1978, that closed mental hospitals in Italy, is a law of principles that cannot prevent the development and the progressive extension of ways of working used in old psychiatric hospitals. Ten aspects are examined which are strongly at risk in this direction and which are in fact facilitated by many national and regional regulations. They are the following: leaving the organization of mental health to the autonomous decisions of Regions; reducing the programming of services to an administrative management; reconstituting spaces that operate according to the old mental hospital system; not using every available tool to oppose chronicity; not making a real integration of the new psychiatric wards in General Hospitals; returning to dangerous for yourself and others as the leading model in psychiatric choices; devaluing the centrality of the community and the integrative value of mental health centers; managing any context where there are behavioral or social problems as something related to mental illness; ignoring benchmarking and outcome measures; devaluing the quality of training.

Mental health reforms in the Czech Republic.

This paper describes the history and current provision of mental healthcare in the Czech Republic. After the political changes in 1989, there was an expansion of out-patient care and several non-governmental organisations began to provide social rehabilitation services, but the main focus of care still rested on mental hospitals. In recent years, mental health reform has been in progress, which has involved expanding community-based services and psychiatric wards of general hospitals, simultaneously with educational and destigmatisation programmes.

A Study to Assess Psychiatric Nurses Attitude and Practice Toward Physical Restraint Among Mentally Ill Patients

Aim: This study was to assess psychiatric nurses’ attitude and practice toward physical restraint among mentally ill patients. Methods: A descriptive research design was used to achieve the study objective. The present study was carried out in three specialized governmental mental hospitals and two psychiatric wards in general hospital. A convenient purposive sample of 96 nurses was included in the study. The tool used for data collection was the self-administered structured questionnaire; it included three parts: The first comprised items concerned with demographic characteristics of the nurses, the second comprised 10 item measuring nurses’ attitudes toward physical restraint, and the third was used to assess nurses’ practices regarding use of physical restraint. Results: There were insignificant differences between attitudes and practices in relation to nurses’ sex, level of education, years of experience and work place. Moreover, a positive significant correlation was found between nurses’ total attitude scores, and practices regarding use of physical restraint. Conclusion: Psychiatric nurses have positive attitude and adequate practice toward using physical restraints as an alternative management for psychiatric patients. It is important for psychiatric nurses to acknowledge that physical restraints should be implemented as the last resort. The study recommended that it is important for psychiatric nurses to acknowledge that physical restraints should be implemented as the last resort.

A study to assess the knowledge and attitude of staff nurses regarding human rights of mentally ill patients at selected hospitals of Bangalore, India

Background: Mental illness raises many human rights issues. People with mental disorders are exposed to a wide range of human rights violation both within and outside the health care context. People with mental illness and their families do not exercise their rights, because of lack of awareness that they have such rights, lack of knowledge about how to effectively assert their rights, and lack of confidence in asserting their rights. The most important factor in ensuring patient’s rights is the knowledge, attitude and commitment of the mental health professionals.Objectives: The objectives of the study were to assess knowledge and attitude of staff nurses regarding human rights of mentally ill patients.Methods: A descriptive approach was adopted for the study. A total of 50 staff nurses working in psychiatric wards of general hospitals and in psychiatric hospitals of Bangalore were selected through purposive sampling technique. A structured knowledge questionnaire was used to assess level of knowledge and a four-point Likert scale was used to assess attitude of nurses regarding human rights of mentally ill patients.Results: The overall mean knowledge score was 50 percent and the overall mean attitude score was 68.65 percent among the staff nurses.Conclusion: The results of the study exposed the requirement of continuing education of staff nurses regarding human rights of mentally ill patients. Journal of Kathmandu Medical College Vol. 6, No. 1, 2017, page: 27-31

Spirituality meanings reported by Southeast Brazilian nursing staff at the psychiatric ward of a university general hospital: A clinical-qualitative study

IntroductionDespites nursing holistic trends for caring, in psychiatric wards of general hospitals the spiritual dimension remains controversy. Evidence shows spirituality rule in recovering and also alerts about complications associated to mental disorders and spirituality.AimTo describe spirituality meanings attributed by a psychiatric nursing team and discuss how they apply them on professional cares.MethodClinical-qualitative design is a particularization of generic qualitative strategies brought from humanities to approach symbolic research questions in clinical settings. A semi-directed interview with open-ended question, in-depth, was carried out with a team of 22 nursing professionals in the psychiatric ward of a general hospital in Southeast Brazil. Data analysis was driven under the Ricoeur understanding of Freudian symbolic meaning, which affirm that a statement revels multiple meanings overwritten.ResultsSpirituality is developed from several sources of restlessness and living together. The function of spirituality is to help fulfill social roles, keep internal balance and to maintain sacred practice attitudes towards life that brings symbolic salvation: help or redemption to hard life times. Nature of mental illness remains as spiritual stigma and a suspicion contradictorily to spiritual approach caring to patients in inpatients services, which is described, as inappropriate or confusable.ConclusionsEven spirituality meanings are covered by symbolism, which expresses human attitudes to help in life crises they are surrounded by contradictions that situate this dimension in the limit of reason, which approximates carriers and patients causing weirdness. Nursing staff still needs training to deliver holistic care, and spiritual counseling to gain clarity in this issue.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Psychiatric Nurses' Attitude and Practice toward Physical Restraint

AimThis study was to assess psychiatric nurses' attitude and practice toward physical restraint among mentally ill patients. MethodsA descriptive research design was used to achieve the study objective. The present study was carried out in three specialized governmental mental hospitals and two psychiatric wards in general hospital. A convenient purposive sample of 96 nurses who were working in the previously mentioned setting was included. The tool used for data collection was the Self-Administered Structured Questionnaire; it included three parts: The first comprised items concerned with demographic characteristics of the nurses, the second comprised 10 item measuring nurses' attitudes toward physical restraint, and the third was used to assess nurses' practices regarding use of physical restraint. ResultsThere were insignificant differences between attitudes and practices in relation to nurses' sex, level of education, years of experience and work place. Moreover, a positive significant correlation was found between nurses' total attitude scores, and practices regarding use of physical restraint. ConclusionPsychiatric nurses have positive attitude and adequate practice toward using physical restraints as an alternative management for psychiatric patients. It is important for psychiatric nurses to acknowledge that physical restraints should be implemented as the last resort. The study recommended that it is important for psychiatric nurses to acknowledge that physical restraints should be implemented as the last resort.