The relationship between ward atmosphere and staff attitude to treatment in psychiatric in-patient units

The relationship between staff ratings of ward atmosphere, their attitude to treatment, and their direction of interest was investigated in four psychiatric in-patient units. Two general admission units, one intensive care unit, and one regional secure unit were studied. Fifty-eight psychiatric nurses rated their units using the Ward Atmosphere Scale-Form R (WAS) and expressed their direction of interest and attitude to treatment on the Direction of Interest Questionnaire and the Attitude to Treatment Questionnaire from the Claybury Selection Battery. An equamax factor analysis of the WAS subscales produced three clear factors. These factors, together with the original WAS subscales, were used to compare staff ratings of their units and to correlate with their attitude to treatment and direction of interest. A multivariate analysis of variance showed that staff ratings of ward atmosphere varied according to their unit and their attitude to treatment, but not with their direction of interest. Significant relationships were also found between staff characteristics, such as age, qualifications and experience, and ratings of ward atmosphere.