The prevalence of nursing staff stress on adult acute psychiatric in-patient wards. A systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Concerns about recent changes in acute in-patient mental health care environments have led to fears about staff stress and poor morale in acute in-patient mental health care staff.


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


METHODS
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.
Richards
David A
DA
Dept. of Health Sciences, University of York, Seebohm Rowntree Building, University Road, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
Bee
Penny
P
Barkham
Michael
M
Gilbody
Simon M
SM
Cahill
Jane
J
Glanville
Julie
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*