Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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An evaluation of the impact of the move to a new mental
health inpatient facility on staff and patient outcomes.
Fiona Nolan, RMN, BA (Hons), MPhil
Nursing Research Fellow
Centre for Outcomes research and Effectiveness (CORE)
University College London
1-19, Torrington Place,
WC1E 7HB
Email: f.nolan@ucl.ac.uk
Tel: +442076795911
Stephen Pilling, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Director,
CORE
Sonia Johnson, BA, BM Ch, MSC, MRPsych, PhD, Reader,
Social and Community Psychiatry, UCL
Background: Despite increased interest in the development of
community care over the past 30 years, inpatient services continues
to receive over 50% of the mental health funding in the UK.
Concerns about the standard of inpatient care have been expressed,
particularly over the past decade. This has led to initiatives to
improve services, but there is little evidence as to their
effectiveness.
Aim: To investigate whether the move to a new inpatient premises
in central London was successful in terms of improving staff and
patient outcomes
Methods: A natural ‘before and after’ design was used, and all
wards which were affected by the move were included. The staff
experience was investigated using the Ward Atmosphere Scale
(WAS) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. We investigated that of
patients using the WAS, the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ)
and the ‘Your treatment and Care’ questionnaire. 158 patients were
included in the first stage, and 145 in the second, with response
rates of 80% and 75% respectively. Staff figures were 182 (RR=
80%), and 197 (RR= 74%) respectively.
Findings: Results for patients showed statistically significant
changes in CSQ scores, and in almost all items in the ‘Your
Treatment and Care’ measure.
Levels of staff burnout appeared unchanged, expect in rehabilitation
wards. Among the WAS findings were higher levels of staff control
as perceived by patients, and lower levels of anger and aggression.
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