title: Staff & client perceptions of unit quality: a pilot study.
abstract: This pilot study compared psychiatric health care team members' perceptions of unit quality with discharged clients' perceptions of quality of care received on the unit. The staff members were from four different service units in one acute care psychiatric facility. The study used the Perceptions of Unit Quality (PUQ) scale, a valid and reliable outcome measurement instrument, developed by Cronenwett. Most quality assurance instruments that exist have focused on individual caregivers' or service-specific views of quality, but the PUQ scale allows quality assurance data that represent team performance to be described through team perceptions of quality. Results of this pilot study suggest that use of the PUQ scale, in conjunction with clients' perceptions of unit quality, may be a legitimate approach in continuous quality improvement efforts in psychiatric-mental health care centers.
authors.affiliation: Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3812, USA. rdema10519@aol.com
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeMarco
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flaherty
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glod
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Terk
authors.forename: Mechele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plasse
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012107:Research Design; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States