Exploration of the use of seclusion in an Acute Unit and a PICU
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An ethnographic case study to explore episodes of seclusion within a psychiatric acute assessment unit and a psychiatric intensive care unit
IRAS ID
180974
Contact name
Haley Jackson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Humber NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 12 months, 0 days
Research summary
In 2014 the Department of Health issued guidance relating to the inappropriate use of seclusion within healthcare establishments. Audit suggested seclusion rates with a local Mental Health Trust had increased by 7.2% for the period August 2014 to January 2015 as compared to the same period for the previous year. It was therefore proposed to undertake an exploratory case study to gain an understanding into the events leading up to a patient being secluded and the effect the event has from the differing perspective of the stakeholders involved. The aim is to examine the culture, a chronology of events within a limited number of episodes of seclusion and the impact it has upon those involved.
Periods of ethnographic participatory observation will be untaken by a nurse researcher with the staff, resident patients and visitors to the Acute (working age) Adult Assessment Unit and the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit. The study plans to capture data from a small number of seclusion episodes and last no longer than one month on each unit. Post seclusion event focus group interviews will be held with the staff and patients. Between 1 and 3 months later any patients that were subject to seclusion will meet with a psychologist to examine any residual subjective trauma and complete the Impact of Events Scale – Revised (IES-R). Constant comparative analysis will be used to identify themes and the data collected will be used to create an authentic account of clinical practice on the units.
It is hope that the findings of the study can be used to reduce the incidence and impact of the use of seclusion on the units.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/YH/0424
Date of REC Opinion
16 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion