An Updated Review of Literature for Air Medical Evacuation High-Level Containment Transport During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: In 2019, our team conducted a literature review of air medical evacuation high-level containment transport (AE-HLCT) of patients infected with high-consequence pathogens. Since that publication, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in numerous air medical evacuations. We re-examined the new literature associated with AE-HLCTs to determine new innovations developed as a result of the pandemic. METHODS: A literature search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE from February 2019 to October 2021. The authors screened abstracts for the inclusion criteria and reviewed full articles if the abstract was relevant to the aim. RESULTS: Our search criteria yielded 19 publications. Many of the early transports of patients with COVID-19 used established protocols for AE-HLCT, which were built from the most recent transports of patients with Ebola virus disease. Innovations from the identified articles are subdivided into preflight considerations, in-flight operations, and postflight operations. CONCLUSION: Lessons gleaned from AE-HLCTs of patients with COVID-19 in the early weeks of the pandemic, when little was known about transmission or the severity of the novel disease, have advanced the field of AE-HLCT. Teams that had never conducted such transports now have experience and processes. However, more research into AE-HLCT is needed, including research related to single-patient portable isolation units as well as containerized/multipatient transportation systems.

Children and adolescents coping with home isolation and social distancing during Covid-19 in Qatar: a cross sectional study with qualitative items.

BACKGROUND: Covid-19 related studies report psychological impacts during home isolation and social distancing. Despite that, children and adolescents were able to adopt coping strategies that assisted in lowering severe levels of psychological disorders. This study aims to report on the psychosocial implications of social distancing and isolation on children of different nationalities who reside in Qatar, and to reveal their coping ways. METHODS: This is a cross sectional study with qualitative component at its end. The study is a part of a larger study that reported the results of a national screening for psychological disorders experienced by children and adolescents in Qatar. A bilingual online questionnaire included close-ended and one open-ended question to screen for psychological changes and identify coping strategies practiced by children and adolescents (7-18 years) during home-isolation and social distancing. The quantitative questionnaire had five main sections as follows: the sociodemographic characteristics, Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale, and Clinical Anger Scale). The last section screened for eight different coping strategies. The summative content analysis was used to analyze the open-ended question "What practices do you do at home that make you happy?". First, open coding was used (for identification), followed by the axial coding (for comparison), and lasted by sorting of coping strategies inductively. RESULTS: Six thousand six hundred and eight (6608) subjects participated between June 23 and July 18, 2020. The clinical outcomes of the study had varying prevalence and levels of severity, which ranged from mild to severe. Higher prevalence was noted for adjustment disorder 66.5% (n = 4396), and generalized anxiety 60% (n = 3858), in comparison to depression 40% (n = 2588). Additionally, participants reported using cognitive, spiritual, social, and physical coping strategies. Eight higher order themes were identified to reflect the coping strategies: playing with siblings or pets, gardening, cooking, practicing arts and crafts, and doing chores. Furthermore, Sociodemographic factors such as ethnicity, religion and family status played a considerable role in choosing the type of coping strategy. CONCLUSION: The uniqueness of the study is bringing the psychosocial implications of social distancing through the voices of children and adolescents, and coping strategies from their perspective. These results are of importance for educational and healthcare systems that are recommended to collaborate even in "normal" times to prepare these age categories for any future crises. The importance of daily lifestyle and family is highlighted as protectors, and crucial factors in emotional management.

Aerosol Concentrations During Otolaryngology Procedures in a Negative Pressure Isolation Room.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of a negative pressure room with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system on reducing aerosol exposure in common otolaryngology procedures. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective quantification of aerosol generation. SETTINGS: Tertiary care. METHODS: The particle concentrations were measured at various times during tracheostomy tube changes with tracheostomy suctioning, nasal endoscopy with suctioning, and fiberoptic laryngoscopy (FOL), which included 5 times per procedure in a negative pressure isolation room with a HEPA filter and additional 5 times in a nonpressure-controlled room without a HEPA filter. The particle concentrations were measured from the baseline, during the procedure, and continued until 30 minutes after the procedure ended. The particle concentrations were compared to the baseline concentrations. RESULTS: The particle concentration significantly increased from the baseline during tracheostomy tube changes (mean difference [MD] 0.80 × 106 p/m3 , p = .01), tracheostomy suctioning (MD 0.78 × 106 p/m3 , p = .004), at 2 minutes (MD 1.29 × 106 p/m3 , p = .01), and 3 minutes (MD 1.3 × 106 p/m3 , p = .004) after suctioning. There were no significant differences in the mean particle concentrations among various time points during nasal endoscopy with suctioning and FOL neither in isolation nor nonpressure-controlled rooms. CONCLUSION: A negative pressure isolation room with a HEPA filter was revealed to be safe for medical personnel inside and outside the room. Tracheostomy tube change with tracheostomy suctioning required an isolation room because this procedure generated aerosol, while nasal endoscopy with suctioning and FOL did not. Aerosol generated in an isolation room was diminished to the baseline after 4 minutes.

Exploring staff perspectives on caring for isolated hospitalised patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Strict isolation of COVID-19 patients to prevent cross infection may inadvertently cause serious adverse outcomes including psychological harm, limitations to care, increased incidence of delirium, deconditioning and reduced quality of life. Previous research exploring the staff perspective of the effect of isolation on patients is limited. The aim of this study is to understand staff perceptions and interpretations of their experiences of the care and treatment of isolated patients and the impact of isolation on patients, families, and staff. METHOD: This qualitative, exploratory study is set in a major metropolitan, quaternary hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Data was collected in focus groups with clinical and non-clinical staff and analysed using content analysis. The hospital ethics committee granted approval. Each participant gave informed verbal consent. RESULTS: Participants included 58 nursing, medical, allied health, and non-clinical staff. Six main themes were identified: 1) Communication challenges during COVID-19; 2) Impact of isolation on family; 3) Challenges to patients' health and safety; 4) Impact on staff; 5) Challenging standards of care; 6) Contextual influences: policy, decision-makers and the environment. CONCLUSION: Isolating patients and restricting visitors resulted in good pandemic management, but staff perceived it came at considerable cost to staff and consumers. Innovative communication technology may facilitate improved connection between all parties. Mental health support is needed for patients, families, and staff. Further research using a co-design model with input from patients, families and staff is recommended to determine appropriate interventions to improve care. Preventing the spread of infection is essential for good pandemic management, but the cost to consumers and staff must be mitigated. Preparation for future pandemics must consider workforce preparedness, adapted models of care and workflow.

[The care partnership pact in adult psychiatry]. / Le pacte du partenariat de soins en psychiatrie adulte.

Programs to reduce the use of coercive measures emphasize the importance of patient involvement in their care and the use of formalized tools. An adult psychiatric care admission unit offers a specific tool to the hospitalized patient: the "Preventive Emotion Management Questionnaire", as soon as the patient is admitted to the unit. Thus, in case of a crisis period, caregivers will know what the patient's wishes are, which will facilitate the implementation of a care partnership, guided by two nursing theories.

Vivencias de las personas mayores de una residencia durante el confinamiento por la COVID-19: un estudio cualitativo / Vivencias de las personas mayores de una residencia durante el confinamiento por la COVID-19: un estudio cualitativo

Objetivos: Conocer y explorar las preocupaciones y experiencias que genera el confinamiento por la COVID-19 en las personas mayores. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo de tipo fenomenológico basado en entrevistas semiestructuradas. La información se analizó mediante análisis de contenido y se verificó con la triangulación de los resultados. Resultados: Emergieron 8 categorías coincidentes: sentimientos durante el confinamiento, inquietudes por la salud, cambios en la propia salud, cambios en los hábitos de vida, apoyo profesionales de la salud, estrategias de afrontamiento, información sobre la COVID-19 y preocupaciones sobre el futuro. Conclusiones: Identificar las vivencias de los mayores durante el confinamiento por la COVID-19 ha mostrado, en esta población, las dificultades surgidas del día a día y las capacidades que han tenido que llevar a cabo para soportar y superar este difícil período de la pandemia (AU)

Objective: This paper aims to understand and explore the concerns and experiences generated by confinement by COVID-19 in the elderly. Methodology: Qualitative study of a phenomenological type based on semi-structured interviews. The information was analysed by content analysis and verified by the triangulation approach. Results: Eight coinciding categories emerged: feelings during confinement, health concerns, changes in one’s health, lifestyle changes, health professional support, coping strategies, information about COVID- 19, and concerns about the future. Conclusions: Identifying the experiences of the elderly during confinement by Covid-19 has shown in this population the difficulties that arise from day to day and the capacities that they have had to carry out to withstand and overcome this difficult period of the pandemic (AU)

Predicting coercion during the course of psychiatric hospitalizations.

BACKGROUND: Coercive measures (such as seclusion, mechanical restraint, and forced medication) during psychiatric inpatient treatment should be avoided whenever possible. Different interventions were already developed to reduce coercion, but for their effective application, it is crucial to know the risk factors of individuals and clinical situations that might be associated with coercion. Since the results of previous studies differ considerably the current study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the course of the exertion of coercion in detail. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed clinical, procedural, and sociodemographic data from patients (n = 16,607 cases) who were treated as inpatients in Switzerland's largest psychiatric institution with 320 beds during the years 2017 to 2020. We used regression models to identify predictors for the exertion of coercion, the number of coercive measures during a treatment episode and time until exertion of the first and last coercive measure. RESULTS: Coercive measures are mostly used during the first days of treatment. We identified clinical parameters such as manic or psychotic episodes to be the most relevant predictors for the exertion of coercion. Cases with those disorders also received coercion more often and earlier in their treatment course than other diagnostic groups. Other promoting factors for frequency and early application of coercion were involuntary admission and factors of chronicity and clinical severity. CONCLUSIONS: Knowing the risk factors may help to target preventive strategies for those at highest risk. In particular, interventions should focus on the critical timeframe at the beginning of treatment.

Mathematical analysis of a COVID-19 model with different types of quarantine and isolation.

A COVID-19 deterministic compartmental mathematical model with different types of quarantine and isolation is proposed to investigate their role in the disease transmission dynamics. The quarantine compartment is subdivided into short and long quarantine classes, and the isolation compartment is subdivided into tested and non-tested home-isolated individuals and institutionally isolated individuals. The proposed model has been fully analyzed. The analysis includes the positivity and boundedness of solutions, calculation of the control reproduction number and its relation to all transmission routes, existence and stability analysis of disease-free and endemic equilibrium points and bifurcation analysis. The model parameters have been estimated using a dataset for Oman. Using the fitted parameters, the estimated values of the control reproduction number and the contribution of all transmission routes to the reproduction number have been calculated. Sensitivity analysis of the control reproduction number to model parameters has also been performed. Finally, numerical simulations to demonstrate the effect of some model parameters related to the different types of quarantine and isolation on the disease transmission dynamics have been carried out, and the results have been demonstrated graphically.

Best practice recommendations on the application of seclusion and restraint in mental health services: An evidence, human rights and consensus-based approach.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Seclusion and restraint still regularly occur within inpatient mental health services. The Council of Europe requires the development of a policy on for instance age limits, techniques and time limits. However, they only define the outer limits of such a policy by indicating when rights are violated. Within these limits, many choices remain open. Staff and service managers lack clarity on safe and humane procedures. Research literature provides limited and contradictory insights on these matters. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The study resulted in 77 best practice recommendations on the practical application of restraint and seclusion as last resort intervention in inpatient youth and adult mental health services, including forensic facilities. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which the development of recommendations on this topic is not only based on scientific evidence, but also on an analysis of European human rights standards and consensus within and between expert-professionals and experts-by-experience. This approach allowed to develop for the first time recommendations on time limits, asking for second opinion, and registration of seclusion and restraint. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: The 77 recommendations encourage staff to focus on teamwork, safety measures, humane treatment, age and time limits, asking for second opinion, observation, evaluation and registration when applying seclusion and restraint as last resort intervention. The implementation of the best practice recommendations is feasible provided that they are combined with a broad preventive approach and with collaboration between service managers, staff (educators) and experts-by-experience. Under these conditions, the recommendations will improve safety and humane treatment, and reduce harm to both service users and staff. ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Seclusion and restraint still regularly occur within inpatient mental health services. Professionals lack clarity on safe and humane procedures. Nevertheless, a detailed policy on for instance age limits, techniques and time limits is required. AIM: We developed recommendations on the humane and safe application of seclusion, physical intervention and mechanical restraint in inpatient youth and adult mental health services, including forensic facilities. METHOD: After developing a questionnaire based on a rapid scientific literature review and an analysis of human rights sources stemming from the Council of Europe, 60 expert-professionals and 18 experts-by-experience were consulted in Flanders (Belgium) through a Delphi-study. RESULTS: After two rounds, all but one statement reached the consensus-level of 65% in both panels. The study resulted in 77 recommendations on teamwork, communication, materials and techniques, maximum duration, observation, evaluation, registration, second opinion and age limits. DISCUSSION: Combining an evidence, human rights and consensus-based approach allowed for the first time to develop recommendations on time limits, asking for second opinion and registration. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: When combined with a preventive approach and collaboration between service managers, staff (educators) and experts-by-experience, the recommendations will improve safety and humane treatment, and reduce harm to service users and staff.

Patient Falls in Seclusion Rooms in Psychiatric Inpatient Care: A Sociotechnical Probabilistic Risk Modeling Study.

BACKGROUND: Patient falls are a major adverse event in psychiatric inpatient care. PURPOSE: To model the risk for patient falls in seclusion rooms in psychiatric inpatient care. METHODS: Sociotechnical probabilistic risk assessment (ST-PRA) was used to model the risk for falls. Data sources were the research team, literature review, and exploration groups of psychiatric nurses. Data were analyzed with fault tree analysis. RESULTS: The risk for a patient fall in a seclusion room was 1.8%. Critical paths included diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder, the mechanism of falls, failure to assess and prevent falls, and psychological or physical reason. The most significant individual risk factor for falls was diagnosis of schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: Falls that occur in seclusion events are associated with physical and psychological risk factors. Therefore, risk assessment methods and fall prevention interventions considering patient behavioral disturbance and physiological risk factors in seclusion are warranted.

Patients with multi-drug-resistant organisms feel inadequately informed about their status: adverse effects of contact isolation.

BACKGROUND: Contact isolation of patients with multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) is an essential element of infection prevention strategies in hospitals worldwide. However, this practice may be associated with adverse side effects on patients' health and well-being. AIM: This study was the first to assess mental health and well-being variables among isolated patients compared with non-isolated control patients in a German cohort. METHODS: We conducted a matched case-control study among N = 267 patients admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital in Germany. Their levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and dissatisfaction with their hospital experience were assessed using a questionnaire. Additionally, among isolated patients, it was evaluated how well they felt informed about their MDRO status. FINDINGS: In our cohort, patients under contact isolation were significantly more dissatisfied than non-isolated control patients but did not show higher levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. A large proportion of patients felt insufficiently informed about their MDRO status. This lack of information was the strongest predictor of dissatisfaction among isolated patients. CONCLUSION: These findings underline the importance of adequate patient communication. It is essential for patients' well-being to receive timely, relevant, and understandable information about the background and consequences of their infection or colonisation with MDROs.

Staff perspectives on the effects of seclusion in adolescent psychiatric inpatient care.

Nurses are at the forefront of seclusion in adolescent psychiatric units. Understanding nurses and other staff perspectives on the effects of seclusion is critical in the ongoing effort to minimize and eliminate seclusion. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of staff attitudes, experiences, and beliefs about the effects of seclusion on both themselves and patients. Thirty-one staff members (including 20 nurses) completed the Attitudes to Seclusion Survey and 24 participated in semi-structured interviews to explore their beliefs and experiences of seclusion use in adolescent psychiatric inpatient care. Analysis of the questionnaire showed overwhelming agreement in the negative impacts of seclusion on patients, while there was uncertainty around the positive impacts of seclusion. Using a combination of the intuitive approach and thematic analysis, five themes were identified from interviews with staff, three unique to nurses: (i) staff were reluctant to use seclusion but felt it was necessary, (ii) nurses felt under-resourcing led to increased chances of seclusion, (iii) staff believed seclusion negatively impacted the patients, (iv) nurses felt their relationships with patients were negatively impacted, and (v) seclusion also had a negative effect on nurses. Clinical recommendations included a systematic and structured approach to debriefing to repair ruptures in the therapeutic relationship; staffing to be based on the acuity of the unit rather than occupancy; alternatives to seclusion that meet the needs of service providers and consumers. Future research should compare staff and patient perspectives, include multiple sites, and greater participation of non-nursing staff.

Recommendations for ventilation of remodeled negative-pressure isolation wards for COVID-19 patients: A comparison of international guidelines.

This mini-review provides the practice guideline recommendations for ventilation of remodeled negative-pressure isolation wards for COVID-19 Patients. Remodeled "quasi-negative-pressure" isolation wards had been proved a feasible, inexpensive, safe, and effective measure to contain nosocomial outbreaks. We should first determine the minimum required ventilation volume of an isolation ward based on the severity of COVID-19 patients. Mechanical ventilation remains the mainstay for achieving the requirement, while the assistance of recirculation is also helpful. Beyond adequate ventilation volume, the "clean to less-clean" directional airflow remains the golden rule for the solution of indoor ventilation. The virus-laden exhaust should be treated with HEPA/UV device or be kept away from living organisms, buildings, and air inlets.

Aislamiento y confinamiento: La otra pandemia en el ámbito social / Isolation and lockdown: The other pandemic in the social sphere / Isolamento e confinamento: A outra pandemia na esfera social

Introducción: El aislamiento y el confinamiento son medidas de alto impacto social que, a nivel mundial y en mayor o menor grado de intensidad, han provocado cambio, temporales o permanentes, respecto a la forma en que se realizan las interacciones sociales. Objetivo: realizar un estudio en el ámbito de lo doméstico y de las modificaciones externas que obligaron a un encierro drástico en la población colombiana en los primeros meses de la pandemia por la COVID-19. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio con enfoque cualitativo a partir de la aplicación de entrevistas en profundidad a 45 participantes residentes en la ciudad de Bucaramanga, Colombia, logrando la reconstrucción de rutas de vida para evaluar el momento más drástico del encierro de la población. Resultados: Desde los hallazgos, se resalta la capacidad de asimilación de las fuertes medidas de confinamiento, la colectivización de las justificaciones más legitimadas desde el discurso médico y la construcción de medidas de autocuidado constituidas en el ámbito de lo doméstico como lugar y espacio relacional clave para enfrentar la incertidumbre social frente a la ausencia de respuestas efectivas para el control del contagio y de la enfermedad. Conclusión: El drástico encierro de la población colombiana a partir de las medidas transitorias, conlleva una alta incertidumbre de los grupos familiares, pero también una respuesta generalmente positiva.

Introduction: Isolation and confinement are measures of high social impact that ­worldwide and to a greater or lesser degree of intensity­ have brought about temporary or permanent changes in how social interactions are conducted. Objective: To conduct a study on the domestic sphere and the external modifications that forced a drastic lockdown in the Colombian population during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was carried out by conducting in-depth interviews with 45 participants living in the city of Bucaramanga, Colombia, reconstructing life pathways to evaluate the most drastic moment in the population's lockdown. Results: From the findings, the ability to assimilate strong lockdown measures, the collectivization of the medical discourse's most legitimate justifications, and the construction of self-care measures in the domestic sphere ­a key place and relational space to face social uncertainty in the absence of effective responses to control contagion and disease­ are highlighted. Conclusion: The drastic lockdown of the Colombian population due to the transitory measures entailed a high level of uncertainty for family groups but also a generally positive response.

Introdução: Isolamento e confinamento são medidas de alto impacto social que, em todo o mundo e em maior ou menor grau de intensidade, têm causado mudanças temporárias ou permanentes na forma como as interações sociais são realizadas. Objetivo: realizar um estudo no âmbito doméstico e as modificações externas que forçaram um confinamento drástico na população colombiana nos primeiros meses da pandemia de COVID-19. Materiais e Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo com abordagem qualitativa a partir da aplicação de entrevistas em profundidade a 45 participantes residentes na cidade de Bucaramanga, Colômbia, realizando a reconstrução de rotas de vida para avaliar o momento mais drástico do confinamento de a população. Resultados: A partir dos achados, destaca-se a capacidade de assimilação das medidas de confinamento forte, a coletivização das justificativas mais legítimas do discurso médico e a construção de medidas de autocuidado constituídas na esfera doméstica como lugar e espaço relacional fundamental. enfrentam a incerteza social na ausência de respostas eficazes para controlar o contágio e a doença. Conclusão: O confinamento drástico da população colombiana como resultado das medidas transitórias acarreta um alto grau de incerteza para os grupos familiares, mas também uma resposta geralmente positiva.

[The Model of Prevention of Seclusion and Restraint Use in Mental Health: An Integrative Review]. / Le Modèle de prévention de l'utilisation des mesures de contrôle en santé mentale : une revue intégrative.

Background Seclusion and restraint are still being used frequently in psychiatric and mental health care despite their known harmful effects. Many countries have the goal of reducing their use, leading to a number of research on prevention interventions. While many of these interventions have been shown to be effective, reducing restrictive practices depends on several factors. Conceptual models have been developed in relation to seclusion and restraint, but none have addressed their prevention specifically. Aim This article aims to propose The Model of prevention of seclusion and restraint use in mental health by carrying an integrative review on the subject. Methods An integrative review was conducted using Whittemore et Knafl's (2005) approach. Four databases (Pubmed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL) were searched for publications between 2010 and 2020, in French or English. Search terms included seclusion, restraint, psychiatr*, mental health reduction and mental health prevent*. The search resulted in the inclusion of 138 articles. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis (Miles et coll., 2014) and categorized with Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological model. Results The six categories represented in the ecological model are described in terms of systems mutually involved in the prevention of seclusion and restraint use: the person (individual), the professionals and the physical environment (microsystem), the ward culture (mesosystem), organizational initiatives (exosystem), national policies and international organizations (macrosystem) and evolution of the discourse or resistance to change (chronosystem). Specific interventions are presented for each system, as well as their interactions. Conclusion The prevention of seclusion and restraint use in mental health is a shared responsibility between the systems involved, who must act as leaders and agents of change by implementing their specific activities. Preventing restrictive practices in mental health will be achieved by developing a shared responsibility and a shift towards a culture of partnership.

[Patient isolation during Sars-CoV-2 pandemic: the caregivers' experience in a neuro-rehabilitation unit]. / L'isolamento degli assistiti durante la pandemia da Sars-CoV-2: il vissuto dei familiari in un reparto di riabilitazione.

. Patient isolation during Sars-CoV-2 pandemic: the caregivers' experience in a neuro-rehabilitation unit. INTRODUCTION: During the Covid-19 pandemic, caregiver visits were suspended in many health care facilities and, even today, limitations remain. These restrictions have impacted not only the patients but also caregivers. AIM: To explore the life experience of caregivers of hospitalized patients, during the pandemic and the impact of visit limitations in a rehabilitation unit. METHOD: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted, following the COREQ guidelines. Caregivers of inpatients were purposefully sampled and interviewed, until data saturation. A qualitative thematic analysis with an inductive approach was performed. RESULTS: Fifteen caregivers were interviewed. The themes emerged were: 1. perception of the illness as a sudden change; 2. concerns for their loved one (i.e. the loneliness or the suffering); 3. critical (difficult to organize and perceived too short) and positive aspects of the visits; 4. barriers to communication (for example, masks when in presence; or the difficult use of technologies by elders); 5. patient's protection and support (thinking that the relative's presence may improve the rehabilitation); 6. emotions (from discouragement when visits were not allowed, to joy when meeting their loved one). CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers experienced uncertainty, worry, anxiety, fear, and lack of understanding of their loved one's clinical situation. Alternatives to the visits or the visits with physical barriers were helpful but not always effective.

Seclusion, Restraint, Therapeutic Alliance, and Legal Admission Status: What Really Matters?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationships, if any, between use of seclusion and restraint and factors such as demographic parameters, diagnosis, legal admission status (voluntary or involuntary), symptoms, cognitive function, global functioning, therapeutic alliance, attitudes toward medication, and insight, among psychiatry inpatients in Ireland. METHODS: We used validated tools to perform detailed assessments of 107 adult psychiatry inpatients admitted to acute psychiatry units at 2 general hospitals in Dublin, Ireland over a 30-month period, between September 2017 and February 2020. RESULTS: The most common diagnoses in our sample were affective disorders (46.7%), schizophrenia and related disorders (27.1%), and personality and behavioral disorders (11.2%). Over a quarter (n=29, 27.1%) of the participating patients had involuntary legal status. Of the 107 patients, 11 patients (10.3%) experienced sedation and/or physical restraint, with 9 patients (8.4%) experiencing at least 1 episode of seclusion and 10 patients (9.3%) experiencing at least 1 episode of physical restraint. On the basis of multivariable analyses, seclusion was associated with younger age and involuntary status, while physical restraint was associated with involuntary status. Each multivariable model explained just over one third of the variance in the distribution of these seclusion and restraint practices. CONCLUSIONS: Use of seclusion and restraint was most strongly associated with involuntary admission status and, in the case of seclusion, younger age, rather than sex, diagnosis, symptoms, cognitive function, global functioning, therapeutic alliance, attitudes toward medication, or insight. The network of interactions between involuntary status and use of seclusion and restraint merits much closer attention, especially as use of seclusion and physical restraint appears to be associated with involuntary legal status independent of level of symptoms, therapeutic alliance, or insight.

Nursing staff composition and its influence on seclusion in an adult forensic mental health inpatient setting: The truth about numbers.

INTRODUCTION: Research on the influence of nursing staff composition and use of seclusion in the forensic mental health inpatient settings is sparse. Nursing staff composition refers to staffing levels, roles, gender ratio and skill mix of the ward teams. Internationally, the rates of seclusion in some forensic mental health inpatient settings have increased over the past 10 years despite global efforts to reduce and eliminate its use. AIM: To examine whether the use of seclusion in a forensic mental health inpatient setting can be attributed to staffing composition or to contextual factors such as day of the week, month or other clinical factors. METHOD: Retrospective data collection was conducted using seclusion data, daily ward reports and staff rosters. Data were collected for all shifts in the hospital over a six-month period. RESULTS: Three staffing variables were identified as having an influence on the use of seclusion: the number of registered nurses on duty, the presence of the shift coordinator and having a lead nurse on shift. DISCUSSION: Senior nurse oversight and guidance are important factors in assisting staff to identify clinical deterioration and intervene early which may assist services reduce the use of seclusion. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: As staffing levels and composition are modifiable, the results of this study may assist nurse leaders to consider workforce improvements to reduce seclusion use.