Perceptions of social stigma and its effect on interpersonal relationships of young males who experience a psychotic disorder

The objective of the study was to evaluate whether the introduction of patient-focused nursing care affected the number of seclusions and the length of time patients spent in seclusion, in an acute psychiatric unit. The study used a pre-intervention–post-intervention design and was conducted in an eight-bed locked unit within a large regional general hospital in Queensland, Australia. The medical records of all people who were secluded as part of their management while in hospital, during two 6-month periods, were retrospectively reviewed. Changes to the ways in which nurses conducted their daily activities were implemented during the time between the data collection periods. </jats:p><jats:p> There were no differences between the groups with respect to the number of times a patient was secluded. However, following implementation of patient-focused care, there was a reduction in the length of time for which patients were secluded. The only change in medication administration was that post-implementation, Haloperidol was used in fewer seclusion episodes. The findings indicate that changes to nursing practice may result in closer monitoring of patients and a reduction in the time patients spend secluded in acute inpatient psychiatric settings.