The Impact of Sensory Modulation Interventions on Practice in Acute Inpatient Mental Health Settings: A Meta-Ethnography

Figures & data

Figure 1. The PRISMA 2020 flow diagram showing the study selection process (Page et al., 2021).

Table 1. Descriptive details of sensory modulation intervention studies and NICE quality scores.

Author (Year)	Country	Methodology/methods	Aim	Sample	NICE quality score
Sutton et al. (2013)	New Zealand	Inductive qualitative study. Focus groups. Interviews.	Examine potential of using sensory modulation interventions in preventing, minimising, and managing aggression.	Nurses (n = 29). Allied health or other (n = 11). Service users (n = 20).	++
Smith and Jones (2014)	U.K.	Mixed methods. Interviews.	Qualitative findings explored staff and service users’ experiences of using a sensory room.	Service users (n = 7). Nurses (n = 8). Nursing assistants (n = 2).	++
Forsyth and Trevarrow, (2018)	U.K.	Qualitative evaluation study. Interviews.	Explore staff perspectives of how sensory room impacted service users and staff.	Occupational therapist (n = 1). Nurses (n = 4). Ward activity worker (n = 1).	++
Hedlund Lindberg et al. (2019)	Sweden	Qualitative study. Interviews. Questionnaire.	Describe service users’ experiences of using sensory rooms.	Service users (n = 19).	++
Barbic et al. (2019)	Canada	Qualitative descriptive study. Interviews.	Understand perceptions on the use of sensory rooms.	Service users (n = 10). Occupational therapists (n = 4). Nurses (n = 5).	++
Wright et al. (2020)	Australia	Qualitative descriptive. Focus groups.	Understand the use of, and barriers and enablers to, implementing sensory modulation interventions.	Nurses (n = 8). Occupational therapists (n = 5). Recreation officer (n = 1). Social worker (n = 1).	++
Wright et al. (2023)	Australia	Multi-staged study. Interviews	Identify the factors influencing the use of sensory modulation interventions.	Nurses (n = 4). Occupational therapist (n = 1). Peer support workers (n = 2).	++

Figure 2. Conceptual map of the reciprocal translation synthesis.

Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. International Journal of Surgery (London, England), 88, 105906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2021.105906

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Sutton, D., Wilson, M., Van Kessel, K., & Vanderpyl, J. (2013). Optimizing arousal to manage aggression: A pilot study of sensory modulation. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 22(6), 500–511. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12205

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Smith, S., & Jones, J. (2014). Use of a sensory room on an intensive care unit. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 52(5), 22–30. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20131126-06

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Forsyth, A. S., & Trevarrow, R. (2018). Sensory strategies in adult mental health: A qualitative exploration of staff perspectives following the introduction of a sensory room on a male adult acute ward. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27(6), 1689–1697. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12466

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Hedlund Lindberg, M., Samuelsson, M., Perseius, K. I., & Björkdahl, A. (2019). The experiences of patients in using sensory rooms in psychiatric inpatient care. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28(4), 930–939. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12593

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Barbic, S. P., Chan, N., Rangi, A., Bradley, J., Pattison, R., Brockmeyer, K., Leznoff, S., Smolski, Y., Toor, G., Bray, B., Leon, A., Jenkins, M., & Mathias, S. (2019). Health provider and service-user experiences of sensory modulation rooms in an acute inpatient psychiatry setting. PloS One, 14(11), e0225238. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225238

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Wright, L., Bennett, S., & Meredith, P. (2020). ‘Why didn’t you just give them PRN?’: A qualitative study investigating the factors influencing implementation of sensory modulation approaches in inpatient mental health units. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(4), 608–621. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12693

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Wright, L., Bennett, S., Meredith, P., & Doig, E. (2023). Planning for change: Co-designing implementation strategies to improve the use of sensory approaches in an acute psychiatric unit. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 44(10), 960–973. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2023.2236712

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