Protected engagement time on older adult mental health wards: A thematic analysis of the views of patients, carers and staff

摘要

In Protected Engagement Time (PET) ward routines are adjusted so that staff can spend time together with patients without being interrupted. The aim of PET is to increase staff and patient interaction on wards and ultimately patient wellbeing. Although PET has been implemented on inpatient wards within the UK, including older adult wards, there is no systematic evidence as to how PET is carried out or how it is experienced by staff, patients and families. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 participants ( 8 patients, 10 family members and 10 ward staff) from three different wards with PET. These were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: the patient is at the heart of care; PET depends on staff; and tensions in how PET operates. There was support in our sample for the principles of PET and its potential for a positive impact on patient wellbeing. However, the implementation of PET was identified as challenging, highlighting an existing tension between an individual’s needs and the wider needs of patients on the ward as a whole. The impact of PET was generally described as being dependent on how PET was organised and the level of staff commitment to PET. Participants emphasised that if PET is to be successful, then it should be a fluid process that fits in with the local context.