title: The relationship between staff members' working conditions and patients' perceptions of the treatment environment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Ullevaal University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway. j.i.rxssberg@medisin.uio.no
authors.forename: Jan Ivar
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Rossberg
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Melle
authors.forename: Stein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Opjordsmoen
authors.forename: Svein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friis
mesh_terms: 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*