The relationship between staff members' working conditions and patients' perceptions of the treatment environment.
BACKGROUND
The psychosocial climate of inpatient units has proved to be related to both patient satisfaction and outcome.


OBJECTIVE
The aims of the study were twofold: to study the relationship between patient and staff satisfaction, and to study the relationship between the patients' perception of the treatment environment and the perceived working conditions of the staff.


METHODS
A total of 129 different patients completed the Ward Atmosphere Scale (WAS) and a General Satisfaction Index (GSI) at 11 time points between 1981 and 2000. Staff members completed the Working Environment Scale-10 (WES-10) and the GSI. Z-scores were calculated to describe the fluctuations in the WAS, WES-10 and the GSI subscale scores.


RESULTS
The study revealed a strong correlation between patient satisfaction and staff satisfaction. Staff satisfaction correlated significantly with the WAS subscales of Practical orientation and Staff control. Furthermore, the study revealed a significant correlation between patient satisfaction and staff members' perception on the WES-10 subscale of Self-realization.


CONCLUSIONS
This exploratory study revealed that the working conditions of staff are related to both patient satisfaction and the patients' perceptions of the treatment environment. A satisfactory working environment for psychiatric staff members seems important for the quality of care perceived by patients.
Rossberg
Jan Ivar
JI
Ullevaal University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway. j.i.rxssberg@medisin.uio.no
Melle
Ingrid
I
Opjordsmoen
Stein
S
Friis
Svein
S
D000328:Adult; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*