Aims: To gain a deeper understanding of the differences in patients and staff per‐spectives 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 in‐volved 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' recom‐mendations on prevention were mostly personally focussed, while nurses suggested general improvements.Conclusion: Patients are often capable to evaluate aggression and give recom‐mendations on prevention shortly after the incident. Patients and nurses differ inthe PS of aggression. Recommendations on prevention of patients and nurses arecomplementary.Impact: What problem did the study address? Perspectives of patients and nursesdiffer with respect to aggression, but how is unclear. What were the main findings?Patients and nurses generally described a similar factual course of events concern‐ing the incident, patients often perceive the severity less than nurses. Patients arecapable 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
Background Prevention of coercion in mental health care is a major, international challenge for mental health professionals. The Dutch government aims to diminish seclusion of psychiatric inpatients by 2018. Since the main reason for seclusion is violent behaviour, there is a need for understanding aggressive behaviour.
4.1 IntroductionThe 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.4.2 AimTo summarize literature concerning attitude of nurses towards coercive measures and the influence of staff characteristics on the use of coercive measures.4.3 MethodSystematic review.4.4 ResultsThe 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.4.5 DiscussionNurses 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.4.6 Implications for practiceMental 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.
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