Journal article

Outcomes of the Victorian Safewards trial in 13 wards: Impact on seclusion rates and fidelity measurement

J Fletcher, M Spittal, L Brophy, H Tibble, S Kinner, S Elsom, B Hamilton

International Journal of Mental Health Nursing | WILEY | Published : 2017

Abstract

Restrictive practices are used in response to conflict and aggression in psychiatric inpatient settings. Reducing such practices is the focus internationally of policy and legislative change, many initiatives, and a growing body of research. Safewards is a model and a set of 10 interventions designed to reduce conflict and containment in inpatient services. In the current study, we aimed to assess the impact of implementing Safewards on seclusion in Victorian inpatient mental health services in Australia. The study used a before-and-after design, with a comparison group matched for service type. Thirteen wards opted into a 12-week trial to implement Safewards and 1-year follow up. The compar..

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Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

This independent evaluation was financially supported by the Office of the Chief Mental Health Nurse, in the Department of Health and Human Services, Government of Victoria (Melbourne, Vic., Australia). The researchers are indebted to staff and consumers in the trial sites, for cooperation with fidelity measurement. This paper forms part of the work towards a PhD, which is support through an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.