title: Ward atmosphere - the Scarlet Pimpernel of psychiatric settings?
abstract: Patients and staff in a forensic psychiatric setting were requested to name three distinguishing characteristics of the ward atmosphere. The manifest content analysis of the responses revealed the following categories: interpersonal relations and pre-conditions for interpersonal relations; organization; staff; treatment; daily activities; physical environment; and feeling good and secure. The patients appeared to have a peripheral role as contributors to the ward atmosphere in the views of the respondents. The easily administered single question format provided valuable information about an intangible element of psychiatric settings - the ward atmosphere.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Växjö University, Sweden. david.brunt@ivosa.vxu.se
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brunt
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rask
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D015279:Organizational Culture; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden