Evaluating the built environment in inpatient psychiatric wards

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Environmental Psychology
• Healthcare Design

Background:

• The physical environment of inpatient psychiatric wards has been under-researched.
• Understanding the built environment's impact on staff satisfaction is crucial for improving care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the built environment of English inpatient psychiatric wards.
• To investigate the relationship between objective design features and staff satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Researchers used a checklist to assess built-environment characteristics in 98 wards.
• Staff (1,540 respondents) completed a satisfaction measure.
• Multilevel modeling analyzed the association between design features and satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Staff satisfaction was associated with non-corridor design and private bathrooms.
• No link was found between satisfaction and patient observability or exterior views.
• Nurses reported lower satisfaction with safety and fitness for purpose compared to other staff.

Conclusions:

• Objective measurement of psychiatric ward environments is feasible.
• Specific design features, like non-corridor layouts and personal bathrooms, can enhance staff satisfaction.