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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A Descriptive Survey of Observation Policies within Irish
Mental Health Services
Eleanor Wall (RPN, Msc Mental Health)
Tralee
Co. Kerry
E-Mail: eleanorwall@hotmail.com
0861585337
Abstract
Although increased observation is the standard practice for the
treatment and management of self-harming and suicidal behavior in
in-patient psychiatric facilities, a literature review reveals a dearth
of published research regarding the content, use or implementation
of observation policies in mental health services. Also implicated in
the literature is the impression of observations as an overused,
under-researched, under-resourced, poorly implemented, staffintensive
intervention that has no clear correlation with the
reduction of risk, their practice is based on custom and tradition
rather than research-based evidence. Without research-based
evidence on which to base the policies that guide the practice and
process of increased observations their content has been found to
vary considerably (Bowers et al, 2000). Such information about the
content of Irish observation policies is not currently available.
Obtaining this information provide the first step towards making
suggestions and recommendations for sound evidence-based policy
on which training, practice, management and audit of increased
observations can be based.
This survey asked if policies relating to the practice of increased
observations exist in Irish Mental Health Services, and if so, do the
commonalities and variations in the content of these policies give
rise to confusion regarding the role and responsibilities of the
nurse? To answer this question a self-administered postal
questionnaire designed specifically to investigate the content of
increased observation policies in the UK (Bowers et al, 2000) was
adapted and distributed to 51 Directors of Nursing in Irish mental
health services.
This study reports a lower response rate than the original study,
however, the overall proportion of total population representation in
both studies is equal. Analysis of the characteristics of respondents
and non-respondents indicate that the findings of this study can be
generalized only to mainstream mental health services. They can
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