title: P.r.n. medication use in a psychiatric high-dependency unit following the introduction of a nurse-led activity programme.
abstract: This paper describes the introduction of a daily activity programme with clients who require psychiatric intensive care in two locked high-dependency units (HDUs). To evaluate the programme, a crossover study between the two units was undertaken with a convenience sample of clients. Baseline data of pro re nata (p.r.n.) medication dispensed to patients were collected for a period of 2 weeks from both locked units before the introduction of the programme. The programme was conducted for a period of 1 month in alternate locked units. Both non-intervention and active programme data were collected throughout the 6-month period of the study. Findings from the study demonstrated that an activity-based nursing intervention was effective in reducing the number of p.r.n. medications dispensed in a HDU compared with control conditions. The effects were statistically significant in one of the units and absent in the other. This study shows that a purposeful activity programme for severely disturbed psychiatric clients in a HDU setting can be effective in reducing disturbed behaviour and therefore the need for p.r.n. medication.
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Mental Health, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. ben.thomas@svhm.org.au
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trauer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009731:Nursing Audit; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014739:Victoria
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs