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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 1/2006

01-01-2006 | Original Paper

The prevalence of nursing staff stress on adult acute psychiatric in-patient wards

A systematic review

Authors: David A. Richards, PhD, BSc(Hons), RN, Penny Bee, PhD, BSc(Hons), Michael Barkham, PhD, MA, MSc, BEd, Simon M. Gilbody, MRCPsych, DPhil, MMedSci, MDChB, BSc(Hons), Jane Cahill, MA, Julie Glanville, MSc, PGDip, BA

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 1/2006

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Abstract

Background

Concerns about recent changes in acute in-patient mental healthcare environments have led to fears about staff stress and poor morale in acute in-patient mental healthcare staff.

Aim

To review the prevalence of low staff morale, stress, burnout, job satisfaction and psychological well-being amongst staff working in in-patient psychiatric wards.

Method

Systematic review.

Results

Of 34 mental health studies identified, 13 were specific to acute in-patient settings, and 21 were specific to other non-specified ward-based samples. Most studies did not find very high levels of staff burnout and poor morale but were mostly small, of poor quality and provided incomplete or non-standardised prevalence data.

Conclusions

The prevalence of indicators of low morale on acute in-patient mental health wards has been poorly researched and remains unclear. Multi-site, prospective epidemiological studies using validated measures of stress together with personal and organizational variables influencing staff stress in acute in-patient wards are required.
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Metadata
Title
The prevalence of nursing staff stress on adult acute psychiatric in-patient wards
A systematic review
Authors
David A. Richards, PhD, BSc(Hons), RN
Penny Bee, PhD, BSc(Hons)
Michael Barkham, PhD, MA, MSc, BEd
Simon M. Gilbody, MRCPsych, DPhil, MMedSci, MDChB, BSc(Hons)
Jane Cahill, MA
Julie Glanville, MSc, PGDip, BA
Publication date
01-01-2006
Publisher
Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 1/2006
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0998-7

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