Implementation of a Sensory Room in a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit: A Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Care
• Healthcare Environment Design

Background:

• Sensory rooms offer a therapeutic space for self-managing distress and agitation in inpatient psychiatric settings.
• Their implementation is limited, with scarce knowledge on supporting strategies.
• Reducing restrictive practices, such as seclusion and PRN medication, is a key goal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore consumer and clinician experiences with a sensory room in an acute psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU).
• To examine the impact of sensory rooms on the use of seclusion and PRN medication.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to sensory room implementation and use.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative interviews and quantitative analysis of restrictive practice data.
• Deductive thematic analysis using the Theoretical Domain Framework (TDF) and COM-B model.
• Calculation of seclusion and PRN medication rates pre- and post-implementation.

Main Results:

• No significant changes in PRN medication use were observed.
• A non-statistically significant numeric decrease in seclusion rates was noted.
• Key barriers included environmental context (room location) and staffing resources; facilitators centered on consumer and staff motivation.

Conclusions:

• Sensory rooms are valued by patients and staff, providing a safe therapeutic space in PICUs.
• Successful implementation requires addressing environmental and staffing barriers.
• Further strategies are needed to optimize the impact of sensory rooms on restrictive practices.