Evaluation of an experience-based program to understand the concept of recovery among hospital-based psychiatric nurses

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to implement an experience-based program to promote the understanding of the concept of recovery, which is defined as a meaningful life and valued sense of integrity based on subjective and individual viewpoints, among psychiatric nurses working in hospitals in Japan and to evaluate this program. Methods: We conducted a preliminary survey of nurses at six facilities with psychiatric wards. The experience-based program was conducted for 12 nurses who expressed a wish to participate. The program spanned three days and consisted of lectures, assertive community treatment (ACT) staff visits for recovery orientation, and group work. Results: The mean Recovery Knowledge Inventory of nine participants ultimately included was 3.41 points (SD, 0.28) before the program and 3.69 points (SD, 0.24) after the program, indicating a significant difference (p = .004). Categories obtained from ACT support experiences included the following: “Continuing to attend to the need to live in one’s community/home regardless of how bad psychiatric symptoms become without the use of medicines,” “Viewing the person living their life in a place where they belong and in their own individual style,” “Valuing the patient’s wishes is the slow but sure way to a fruitful relationship,” and “Become familiar to the patient and their family’s lifestyle by carefully listening to the family’s feelings”. Discussion: We believe that this program can help establish the concept of recovery in hospital, which tend to rely on the medical model, and enable daily nursing practice to be implemented from a strength-based viewpoint.

KEYWORDS:

• Patient
• hospital nurse
• strength-based
• recovery
• assertive community treatment

Acknowledgments

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all the psychiatric nurses working at hospitals in Okayama City who participated in this study and the specialized ACT facility staff who cooperated and generously offered their advice regarding program implementation and evaluation. We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to all ACT users who agreed to home visits for observational practice.

Funding

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP23792708, JP15K11791.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP23792708, JP15K11791.