Design in Mind: Service user and frontline staff perspectives on the acute ward as physical environment

2014 Conference

Abstract: It is increasingly recognised that the physical environment of psychiatric wards can contribute to service user well-being and recovery. However, service users and frontline staff are rarely involved in evaluating the impact of psychiatric ward design. We describe a participatory study, Design in Mind, which aims to redress this balance. We generated tools for assessing ward design by interviewing service users and staff in two London acute psychiatric wards. We then tested these tools on 53 inpatients and 61 staff of four London wards. Service users also took part in a photographic study of the best and worst aspects of ward design. All phases of the study used a model of ‘stakeholder involvement’. Service user researchers conducted the interviews, created the questionnaires and analysed all data.

We discovered that black and minority ethnic service users and those with a psychosis spectrum diagnosis have more positive views. Staff and service users have similar evaluations of specific design features but staff have a more positive assessment of the impact of ward design on service users. Service users photographs illustrated the importance of good maintenance and privacy and showed how poor design can disrupt their daily routines.

The measures we have created will now allow service users and frontline staff alike to take part in evaluation and development of psychiatric ward design. The use of photographs can also encourage active participation and help overcome language barriers.

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