Does 'Time Together' increase quality of interaction and decrease stress? A study protocol of a multisite nursing...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Psychiatric Care
• Healthcare Intervention Research

Background:

• The nurse-patient relationship is crucial in psychiatric inpatient care, yet challenges persist.
• Unfulfilled expectations and interaction difficulties between patients and staff are common.
• There is a need for structured interventions to enhance quality interactions in psychiatric settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the effects of the nursing intervention "Time Together" on nurse-patient interactions.
• To evaluate the process of implementing the "Time Together" intervention.
• To address the need for effective nursing interventions in psychiatric inpatient care.

Main Methods:

• A multisite study utilizing a single-system experimental design with frequent measures.
• Data collection via questionnaires, participant observations, and semistructured interviews.
• Quantitative data analyzed using visual and statistical methods; qualitative data analyzed using content analysis.

Main Results:

• The study aimed to assess the primary outcomes of quality interactions for patients and perceived stress for staff.
• Secondary outcomes included patient anxiety/depression symptoms and staff stress of conscience.
• A comprehensive process evaluation described contextual factors and participant experiences.

Conclusions:

• The findings will inform the development of the "Time Together" intervention and similar nursing strategies.
• This research is relevant nationally and internationally due to the scarcity of similar interventions.
• Dissemination will occur through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.