A Scoping Review on Staff Attitudes towards the Use of Coercion in Mental Healthcare.

Attitudes of mental health professionals towards the use of coercion are highly relevant concerning its use coercion in mental healthcare, as mental health professionals have to weigh ethical arguments and decide within a legal frame in which situations to use coercion or not. Therefore, assessment of those attitudes is relevant for research in this field. A vital instrument to measure those attitudes towards the use of coercion is the Staff Attitude to Coercion Scale. This scoping review aims to provide a structured overview of the advantages and limitations in the assessment of attitudes toward coercion. We conducted a scoping review in Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science, based on the PRISMA-ScR. Inclusion criteria were empirical studies on the attitudes of mental health professionals. We included 80 studies and systematically mapped data about the main results and limitations in assessing attitudes toward coercion. The main results highlighted the relevance and increased interest in staff attitudes towards coercion in mental healthcare. Still, the majority of the included studies relied on a variety of different concepts and definitions concerning attitudes. The data further indicated difficulties in developing new and adapting existing assessment instruments because of the equivocal definitions of underlying concepts. To improve the research and knowledge in this area, future studies should be based on solid theoretical foundations. We identified the need for methodological changes and standardized procedures that take into account existing evidence from attitude research in social psychology, nursing science, and other relevant research fields. This would include an update of the Staff Attitude to Coercion Scale based on the limitations identified in this review.

Association between characteristics of nursing teams and patients' aggressive behavior in closed psychiatric wards.

PURPOSE: Estimate the effect of nursing, shift, and patient characteristics on patients' aggression. DESIGN AND METHODS: Follow-up study on a closed psychiatric ward was performed to estimate the effect of nursing team characteristics and patient characteristics on the incidence of aggression. FINDINGS: The incidence of aggression (n = 802 in sample) was lower in teams with >75% male nurses. Teams scoring high on extraversion experienced more verbal aggression and teams scoring high on neuroticism experienced more physical aggression. Younger patients and/or involuntarily admitted patients were more frequently aggressive. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These findings could stimulate support for nurses to prevent aggression.

Cross-classified multilevel models improved standard error estimates of covariates in clinical outcomes - a simulation study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare estimates of effect and variability resulting from standard linear regression analysis and hierarchical multilevel analysis with cross-classified multilevel analysis under various scenarios. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We performed a simulation study based on a data structure from an observational study in clinical mental health care. We used a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach to simulate 18 scenarios, varying sample sizes, cluster sizes, effect sizes and between group variances. For each scenario, we performed standard linear regression, multilevel regression with random intercept on patient level, multilevel regression with random intercept on nursing team level and cross-classified multilevel analysis. RESULTS: Applying cross-classified multilevel analyses had negligible influence on the effect estimates. However, ignoring cross-classification led to underestimation of the standard errors of the covariates at the two cross-classified levels and to invalidly narrow confidence intervals. This may lead to incorrect statistical inference. Varying sample size, cluster size, effect size and variance had no meaningful influence on these findings. CONCLUSION: In case of cross-classified data structures, the use of a cross-classified multilevel model helps estimating valid precision of effects, and thereby, support correct inferences.

Influence of nursing staff characteristics on seclusion in acute mental health care-A prospective two-year follow-up study.

INTRODUCTION: Seclusion still occurs on mental health wards, despite absence of therapeutic efficacy and high risks of adverse patient effects. Literature on the effect of nursing teams, and the role of psychological characteristics in particular, on frequency of seclusion is scarce. AIM: To explore the influence of demographic, professional or psychological, nursing team-level, and shift characteristics on the frequency of use of seclusion. METHODS: Prospective two-year follow-up study. RESULTS: We found that the probability of seclusion was lower when nursing teams with at least 75% males were on duty, compared to female only teams, odds ratio (OR = 0.283; 95% CrI 0.046-0.811). We observed a trend indicating that teams scoring higher on the openness personality dimension secluded less, (OR = 0.636; 95% CrI 0.292-1.156). DISCUSSION: Higher proportions of male nurses in teams on duty were associated with lower likelihood of seclusion. We found an indication that teams with a higher mean openness personality trait tended to seclude less. These findings, if causal, could serve as an incentive to reflect on staff mix if circumstances demand better prevention of seclusion.

Influence of nursing staff attitudes and characteristics on the use of coercive measures in acute mental health services-A systematic review.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Aggressive behaviour is a major problem in clinical practice of mental health care and can result in the use of coercive measures. Coercive measures are dangerous for psychiatric patients and international mental healthcare works on the elimination of these interventions. There is no previous review that summarizes the attitude of nursing staff towards coercive measures and the influence of nursing staff characteristics on attitude towards and the use of coercive measures. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The attitude of nurses shifted from a therapeutic paradigm (coercive measures have positive effects on patients) to a safety paradigm (coercive measures are undesirable, but necessary for the wards' safety). Nurses express the need for less coercive interventions to prevent seclusion and restraint, but their perception of intrusiveness is influenced by how often they use specific coercive measures. The knowledge from scientific literature on the influence of nursing staff on coercive measures is highly inconclusive, although the feeling of safety of nurses might prove to be promising for further research. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: There is need for increased attention specifically for the feeling of safety of nurses, to better equip nurses for their difficult work on acute mental health wards. ABSTRACT: Introduction The use of coercive measures generally has negative effects on patients. To help prevent its use, professionals need insight into what nurses believe about coercion and which staff determinants may influence its application. There is need for an integrated review on both attitude and influence of nurses on the use of coercion. Aim To summarize literature concerning attitude of nurses towards coercive measures and the influence of staff characteristics on the use of coercive measures. Method Systematic review. Results The attitude of nurses changed during the last two decades from a therapeutic to a safety paradigm. Nurses currently view coercive measures as undesirable, but necessary to deal with aggression. Nurses express the need for less intrusive interventions, although familiarity probably influences its perceived intrusiveness. Literature on the relation between staff characteristics and coercive measures is inconclusive. Discussion Nurses perceive coercive measures as unwanted but still necessary to maintain safety on psychiatric wards. Focussing on the determinants of perception of safety might be a promising direction for future research. Implications for practice Mental health care could improve the focus on the constructs of perceived safety and familiarity with alternative interventions to protect patients from unnecessary use of coercive interventions.

"But I did not touch nobody!"-Patients' and nurses' perspectives and recommendations after aggression on psychiatric wards-A qualitative study.

AIMS: To gain a deeper understanding of the differences in patients and staff perspectives in response to aggression and to explore recommendations on prevention. DESIGN: Qualitative, grounded theory study. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with patients and nurses involved in an aggressive incident. Data collection was performed from May 2016 - March 2017. RESULTS: Thirty-one interviews were conducted concerning 15 aggressive incidents. Patients and nurses generally showed agreement on the factual course of events, there was variation in agreement on the perceived severity (PS). Patients' recommendations on prevention were mostly personally focussed, while nurses suggested general improvements. CONCLUSION: Patients are often capable to evaluate aggression and give recommendations on prevention shortly after the incident. Patients and nurses differ in the PS of aggression. Recommendations on prevention of patients and nurses are complementary. IMPACT: What problem did the study address? Perspectives of patients and nurses differ with respect to aggression, but how is unclear. What were the main findings? Patients and nurses generally described a similar factual course of events concerning the incident, patients often perceive the severity less than nurses. Patients are capable to give recommendations on prevention of aggressive incidents, shortly after the incident. Where and on whom will the research have impact? Factual course of events can be a common ground to start evaluating aggressive incidents and post-incident review should address the severity of incidents. Asking recommendations from patients on how to improve safety and de-escalation can lead to innovative and personal de-escalation strategies and supports patients autonomy.

Predictors of Adverse Events and Medical Errors Among Adult Inpatients of Psychiatric Units of Acute Care General Hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) or medical errors (MEs) during inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations. METHODS: A full-probability random sample of 4,371 charts from 14 inpatient psychiatric units at acute care general hospitals in Pennsylvania were reviewed in a two-stage process that comprised screening and flagging by nurses followed by review by psychiatrists. AE and ME rates were calculated overall and then stratified by patient and hospital factors. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models examined predictors of AEs and MEs. RESULTS: An AE was identified in 14.5% of hospitalizations (95% confidence interval [CI]=11.7-17.9), and an ME was identified in 9.0% (CI=7.5-11.0). In adjusted analyses, patients with a longer length of stay and older patients had higher odds of experiencing an AE or an ME. Patients ages 31-42 (compared with ages 18-30), with commercial insurance (compared with Medicare or Medicaid or uninsured), or treated at high-volume hospitals (compared with low, medium, or very high) had lower odds of an AE. Patients age 54 or older (compared with ages 18-30), admitted during the weekend, admitted to rural hospitals (compared with urban), or treated at very-high-volume hospitals (compared with high) were more likely to experience an ME. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight into factors that put patients and hospitals at increased risk of patient safety events. This information can be used to tailor improvement strategies that enhance the safety of patients treated on general hospital psychiatric units.

Nursing Staff Factors Contributing to Seclusion in Acute Mental Health Care - An Explorative Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Seclusion is a controversial intervention. Efficacy with regard to aggressive behaviour has not been demonstrated, and seclusion is only justified for preventing safety hazards. Previous studies indicate that nursing staff factors may be predictors for seclusion, although methodological issues may have led to equivocal results. OBJECTIVE: To perform a prospective cohort study to determine whether nursing staff characteristics are associated with seclusion of adult inpatients admitted to a closed psychiatric ward. METHOD: We studied the association between nurses' demographics and incidence of seclusion during every shift. Data were collected during five months in 2013. Multiple logistic regression was used for analysis. RESULTS: In univariable analysis, we found a non-significant association between seclusion and female gender, odds ratio (OR) = 5.27 (0.98-28.49) and a significant association between seclusion and nurses' large physical stature, OR = 0.21 (0.06-0.72). We found that physical stature is the most substantial factor, although not significant: ORadjusted = 0.27 (0.07-1.04). CONCLUSION: Nurses' gender may be a predictor for seclusion, but it seems to be mediated by the effect of physical stature. We used a rigorous, census-based, prospective design to collect data on a highly detailed level and found a large effect of physical stature of nurses on seclusion. We found nurses' physical stature to be the most substantial predictor for seclusion. These and other factors need to be explored in further research with larger sample size.