A systematic review on the use of action research methods in mental health nursing care.

AIMS: To identify and synthesize evidence on the use of action research methods in mental health nursing care. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: CINAHL, Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus databases were searched in January 2021. REVIEW METHODS: Data were selected using the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis framework. Two reviewers independently conducted the study selection, and quality appraisal using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research, data extraction and data analysis procedures. RESULTS: Sixteen studies, half of which used participatory action research, were included in this review. Nurses, along with other stakeholders, were an active part of the action research process. The main topics of interest addressed were categorized as improving the adoption of a person-centred approach to care and improving decision-making procedures. The use of action research helped the participants to identify the meaning they attached to the topic of interest to be improved. Moreover, this method helped to identify needs and strategies for improving care. The studies concurred that the use of action research enabled participants to gain awareness, improve attitudes and acquire knowledge. In addition, it enabled participants to gain confidence and security in the group context, as key aspects of their empowerment. CONCLUSION: This review shows the usefulness of action research in any mental health nursing context, contributing to the improvement of care at both the individual and collective levels. IMPACT: This paper demonstrates the use of the action research method in the field of mental health nursing. Its use has improved the clinical practice of nurses as well as that of teams in both community and hospital settings, addressing issues of the person-centred approach to care and decision-making procedures.

Implementation of evidence on the nurse-patient relationship in psychiatric wards through a mixed method design: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric nurses are aware of the importance of the therapeutic relationship in psychiatric units. Nevertheless, a review of the scientific evidence indicates that theoretical knowledge alone is insufficient to establish an adequate therapeutic alliance. Therefore, strategies are required to promote changes to enhance the establishment of the working relationship. The aims of the study are to generate changes in how nurses establish the therapeutic relationship in acute psychiatric units, based on participative action research and to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of evidence through this method. METHODS/DESIGN: The study will use a mixed method design. Qualitative methodology, through participative action research, will be employed to implement scientific evidence on the therapeutic relationship. A quasi-experimental, one-group, pre-test/post-test design will also be used to quantitatively measure the effectiveness of the implementation of the evidence. Participants will consist of nurses and patients from two psychiatric units in Barcelona. Nurses will be selected by theoretical sampling, and patients assigned to each nurses will be selected by consecutive sampling. Qualitative data will be gathered through discussion groups and field diaries. Quantitative data will be collected through the Working Alliance Inventory and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Qualitative data will be analysed through the technique of content analysis and quantitative data through descriptive and inferential statistics. DISCUSSION: This study will help to understand the process of change in a nursing team working in an inpatient psychiatric ward and will allow nurses to generate knowledge, identify difficulties, and establish strategies to implement change, as well as to assess whether the quality of the care they provide shows a qualitative improvement.

The Therapeutic Relationship in Inpatient Psychiatric Care: A Narrative Review of the Perspective of Nurses and Patients.

PURPOSE: To study the significance of 'therapeutic relationship' between nurses and patients within the context of a psychiatric hospital. METHOD: Narrative literature review. Content analysis. FINDINGS: The significance of the therapeutic relationship is quite similar for both nurses and patients in psychiatric hospital units. Nevertheless, several factors may separate the two positions: the time available for the relationship, the negative perceptions on the part of both parties, and the insecurity of the setting. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Increased knowledge and understanding of the significance of the therapeutic relationship from the perspective of nurses and patients would allow the strengthening of areas of mutual interest.

Improving the therapeutic relationship in inpatient psychiatric care: Assessment of the therapeutic alliance and empathy after implementing evidence-based practices resulting from participatory action research.

PURPOSE: To examine how evidence about the therapeutic alliance gleaned from participatory action project affected the level of this alliance and the degree of empathy of psychiatric nurses. DESIGN AND METHODS: Quasi-experimental study in two psychiatric units. In one group, evidence-based practices that affected the therapeutic alliance were implemented; in the comparison group, there was no such intervention. FINDINGS: The nurses from the intervention group improved their degree of empathy and factors such as agreement on objectives and tasks with the patient. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results confirm the possibility of measuring and improving the therapeutic relationship in psychiatric care.