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Study of effects of constant observation of psychiatric in-patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Olakunle Ashaye ,
George Ikkos  and
Elizabeth Rigby
Olakunle Ashaye*
Affiliation:
London/UCLSM Senior Registrar Training Scheme in Psychiatry of Old Age
George Ikkos
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Unit, Barnet General Hospital, Wellhouse Lane, Barnet, Hertfordshire
Elizabeth Rigby
Affiliation:
Clinical Audit Co-Ordinator, Barnet Healthcare Trust
*
∗Correspondence: Dr O. Ashaye, Department of Psychiatry, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Hamstel Road, Harlow, Essex CM20 1QX
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Abstract

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Constant observation is used in psychiatric practice mainly to prevent acutely III in-patients from self-harm. All in-patients in a psychiatric hospital and a general hospital psychiatric unit who had been on constant observation over a 6 month period were identified (13 patients). These patients and their primary nurses were interviewed using different questionnaires. Most patients felt they had benefited from being on constant observation, but disliked the intrusion on their privacy. The nurses agreed that it had helped most patients, but a significant number of nurses found it frustrating and stressful. Our results suggest a need for an information sheet to be given to patients placed on constant observation; that the period on constant observation should be reduced where possible, and that support should be provided for the nurses involved.

Type
Original Papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , March 1997 , pp. 145 - 147
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

References

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