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Acute in-patient psychiatry: how patients spend their time on acute psychiatric wards

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Jonathan Radcliffe  and
Roger Smith
Jonathan Radcliffe
Affiliation:
South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, 4th Floor Ladywell Unit, Lewisham Hospital, Lewisham, London SE13 6LW, email: jonathan.radcliffe@slam.nhs.uk
Roger Smith
Affiliation:
Lewisham Hospital
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Abstract

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Aims and Method

We observed levels of social interaction and activity among in-patients on 16 acute psychiatric wards in 6 hospitals in a large mental health trust. Each ward was observed for 1 week and attendance at organised activities was audited over 3-week periods.

Results

At any time during the day 84% of in-patients were socially disengaged and mainly inactive. On average only 4% of in-patients' time was spent in an organised group activity, with many in-patients opting out altogether. Provision and take-up of group activity programmes varied widely between wards.

Clinical Implications

Provision of organised activity needs to be a higher priority in acute services, and there should be national and local standards for what should be provided. Concerted organisational strategies and assertive approaches by staff are needed to engage in-patients in group activity programmes.

Type
Original papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 31 , Issue 5 , May 2007 , pp. 167 - 170
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 © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2007

References

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Sundram, C. J. (1987) Patient idleness in public hospitals. Psychiatric Quarterly, 58, 243–253.Google Scholar
Yalom, I. D. (1983) Inpatient Group Psychotherapy. Basic Books.Google Scholar
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